Tracking system with separated tracking device

• US 8,077,030 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Trek Xploration Corp. (Metalert, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Joseph W., Eriksen, Jb Bittner, Pellegrini, Ronald L., Bertagna, Patrick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/228,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/693.5, 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 701/214, 701/215, 701/220, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A separated tracking device includes a first portion including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system, a wireless communication device operative to communicate the location data from the first portion to a second portion of the tracking device, the second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit the location data to a remote server. In a particular embodiment, the first portion of the tracking device is attached to a first shoe and the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a second shoe. In another embodiment, the second portion of the tracking device is incorporated in a hand-held device. A method for manufacturing a separated tracking device and a method of operating a separated tracking device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tracking device comprising:

a first portion attached to an article of footwear, said first portion of said tracking device including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system and to generate location data based on said signals, said location data indicative of a location of said tracking device;

a second portion attached to a separate article of footwear, said second portion of said tracking device being spaced apart from said first portion, said second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit data based at least in part on said location data to a remote system; and

a wireless communication device operative to communicate said location data from said first portion of said tracking device to said second portion of said tracking device; and

wherein

said article of footwear and said separate article of footwear are, together, a pair of footwear.

2. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of footwear is a pair of shoes.

3. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device includes:

a first short-range wireless device electronically coupled to said location determining device; and

a second short-range wireless device electronically coupled to said data transceiver.

4. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first portion of said tracking device includes a first battery; and

said second portion of said tracking device includes a second battery separate from said first battery.

5. A tracking device according to claim 4, wherein:

said first portion of said tracking device includes a first inductive charging component coupled to charge said first battery; and

said second portion of said tracking device includes a second inductive charging component coupled to charge said second battery.

6. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein said location determining device includes a GPS receiver.

7. A tracking device according to claim 6, wherein said wireless data transceiver includes a mobile phone modem.

8. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless data transceiver includes a mobile phone modem.

9. A tracking device according to claim 1, wherein said wireless data transceiver is operative to receive control data specifying operational parameters for said location determining device from said remote system and to communicate said control data to said location determining device via said wireless communication device.

10. A method of manufacturing a tracking device, said method comprising:

including a location determining device in a first portion of a tracking device;

including a wireless data transceiver in a second portion of a tracking device;

coupling said first portion of said tracking device to a first article of footwear;

coupling said second portion of said tracking device to a second article of footwear, said second article of footwear being physically separate from said first article of footwear;

including a first wireless communication device in said first portion of said tracking device; and

including a second wireless communication device in said second portion of said tracking device, said first wireless communication device and said second wireless communication device being operative to establish wireless communication between said first portion of said tracking device and said second portion of said tracking device; and

wherein

said first article of footwear and said second article of footwear are, together, a pair of footwear.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said pair of footwear is a pair of shoes.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

including a first battery in said first portion of said tracking device; and

including a second battery in said second portion of said tracking device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

including a first inductive charging component coupled to said first battery in said first portion of said tracking device; and

including a second inductive charging component coupled to said second battery in said second portion of said tracking device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said location determining device includes a GPS receiver.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said wireless data transceiver includes a mobile phone modem.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said wireless data transceiver includes a mobile phone modem.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said wireless data transceiver is operative to receive control data specifying operational parameters for said location determining device via said wireless data transceiver, and to communicate said control data to said location determining device via said wireless communication device.

18. A tracking device including:

a first portion attached to an article of footwear, said first portion of said tracking device including a location determining device operative to receive signals from a positioning system and to generate location data based on said signals, said location data indicative of a location of said tracking device;

a second portion attached to a separate article of footwear, said second portion of said tracking device being spaced apart from said first portion, said second portion including a wireless data transceiver operable to transmit data based at least in part on said location data to a remote system; and

means for communicating between said first portion of said tracking device and said second portion of said tracking device; and

wherein

said article of footwear and said separate article of footwear are, together, a pair of footwear.

19. A tracking device according to claim 18, wherein said pair of footwear is a pair of shoes.