Security and tracking system

• US 8,862,378 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C2 Global Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C2 Global Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Curatolo, Benedict S., Cornelius, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US13/660,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 701/300, 701/400, 701/408, 701/433, 701/434, 3405391-53925, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/593.15, 342/357.54
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A security and tracking apparatus includes at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein the apparatus is adapted for transmitting the location of each signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, includes providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, wherein each respective signaling unit is adapted for identifying the location of the signaling units and for transmitting the location of the signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; and activating the signaling units to transmit the location of the signaling units.

Claims

1. A method to locate a person, animal, or object, comprising:

(a) providing in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal, or the object, at least a first signaling unit having a location and a second signaling unit having a location, wherein each respective said signaling unit is adapted for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit and for transmitting information identifying the location of said respective signaling unit to a monitoring station when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance;

(b) activating at least one of the signaling units to initiate the transmission of the information, optionally in encrypted form, identifying the location of the signaling unit; and

(c) transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units to the monitoring station.

2. The method of claim 1, including automatically activating the transmission of the information identifying the location of the signaling units, optionally in encrypted form, when said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance.

3. The method of claim 1, including initiating the transmission of the information identifying the location of the signaling units upon receiving instructions from a remote source.

4. The method of claim 1, including signaling the units from a monitoring station to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units.

5. The method of claim 1, including receiving the location of the signaling units from a global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

6. The method of claim 1, including operating at least one of the signaling units in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity.

7. The method of claim 1, including at least intermittently transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units, optionally continuously transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units.

8. The method of claim 1, including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units, optionally including transmitting additional information, from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, including transmitting the description of the person, the animal, or the object from the monitoring station to a remote receiver.

10. The method of claim 8, including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver using communication selected from the group consisting of radio, the interne, a telephone network, a cellular network, a wireless network, a mesh network, a local network, local sensors, television, and satellite.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one signaling unit is small, and wherein providing said signaling unit includes hiding said small unit in a wearable article.

12. A method of locating a person, animal or object comprising:

a) providing an apparatus adapted to be in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal or the object, the apparatus comprising at least a first signaling unit having a location and a second signaling unit having a location, wherein each respective said signaling unit is adapted for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit and for transmitting information identifying the location of said respective signaling unit when the first and second signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance;

b) communicating between each said respective signaling unit to determine whether said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance; and

c) upon determining that said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance, transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station, optionally activating said signaling unit that may be in a passive mode to transmit its location to the monitoring station.

13. The method of claim 12 including transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units, and optionally additional information, to a remote receiver.

14. The method of claim 12 including communicating between each signaling unit at least periodically, optionally including communicating between each signaling unit continuously.

15. The method of claim 12 including communicating between each signaling unit upon demand from the monitoring station.

16. The method of claim 12 including transmitting the location of the signaling units upon demand from the person.

17. The method of claim 12 including logging the location of the signaling units in a database associated with the identification of, and optionally other information associated with, the person, the animal or the object.

18. The method of claim 12 including identifying the location of said respective signaling unit using at least one of a GPS receiver, a wireless receiver, or a cellular receiver.

19. The method of claim 12 including transmitting the information identifying the location of said signaling units using at least one of a cellular transceiver or a wireless transceiver.

20. The method of claim 12 including monitoring a physical function for transmitting a signal associated with an emergency condition.

21. The method of claim 12 including transmitting the location of said respective signaling unit to the monitoring station upon loss of communication with the other signaling unit.

22. A method of locating a person, animal or object comprising:

a) providing an apparatus adapted to be in contact with or at least in close proximity to the person, the animal or the object, the apparatus comprising at least a first signaling unit having a location and a second signaling unit having a location, wherein the second signaling unit is in proximity with the first signaling unit, each respective said signaling unit adapted for identifying the location of said respective signaling unit and for transmitting information identifying the location of said respective signaling unit;

b) transmitting information identifying the location of each of the signaling units to a monitoring station;

c) calculating whether said signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance; and

d) upon calculating that said signaling units are separated by more than the preselected distance, initiating at least frequent or continuous transmission of location from each of said signaling units, optionally activating said signaling unit that may be in a passive mode to transmit its location to the monitoring station.

23. The method of claim 22 including transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units, and optionally, additional information, to a remote receiver.

24. The method of claim 22 including transmitting information identifying the location of each of the signaling units to the monitoring station upon demand from the monitoring station.

25. The method of claim 22 including transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units upon demand from the person.

26. The method of claim 22 including transmitting information identifying the location of at least one said signaling unit to the monitoring station upon demand from the monitoring station upon loss of transmission from the other signaling unit.

27. The method of claim 22 including logging the location of the signaling units in a database associated with the identification and optionally other information associated with the person, the animal or the object.

28. The method of claim 22 including identifying the location of said signaling units using at least one of a GPS receiver, a wireless receiver, or a cellular receiver.

29. The method of claim 22 including transmitting the location of said signaling units using at least one of a cellular transceiver or a wireless transceiver.

30. The method of claim 22 including monitoring a physical function for transmitting a signal associated with an emergency condition.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein said calculating is processed by at least one said signaling unit.

32. The method of claim 22 wherein said calculating is processed by the monitoring station.