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WO2003060847A1 - Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels - Google Patents

Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003060847A1
WO2003060847A1 PCT/US2002/000996 US0200996W WO03060847A1 WO 2003060847 A1 WO2003060847 A1 WO 2003060847A1 US 0200996 W US0200996 W US 0200996W WO 03060847 A1 WO03060847 A1 WO 03060847A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
module
facility
communication
asset
wireless
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/000996
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rod L. Proctor
Andrew J. Rimkus
Original Assignee
Airbiquity Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Airbiquity Inc. filed Critical Airbiquity Inc.
Priority to AU2002239909A priority Critical patent/AU2002239909A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2002/000996 priority patent/WO2003060847A1/fr
Publication of WO2003060847A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003060847A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/028—Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/02—Mechanical actuation
    • G08B13/14—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
    • G08B13/1427—Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G08B13/2451—Specific applications combined with EAS
    • G08B13/2462—Asset location systems combined with EAS
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0227—System arrangements with a plurality of child units
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/023—Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to wireless communication, and more particularly to asset location and tracking systems.
  • Businesses have an ongoing need to track and inventory assets. This is particularly critical for high-value assets such as in portable communications test equipment used by the telecommunications industry. When valuable equipment is portable, it is susceptible to theft, as well as loss or misplacement. Because such equipment may be used at remote locations outside • the premises of the business, conventional security measures such as locking down equipment and guarding against its removal are impractical. In addition, even where security is not a concern, equipment may be misplaced and not eatable when needed, even if safely stored on the proper premises, leading to increased equipment costs to ensure an adequate inventory. Also, some equipment may include specialized hardware and software that may have different versions, different update status, and different compatibility for different uses. It may be difficult for an inventory system to monitor the particular characteristics of each item, so that the most appropriate item can be located, or so that deficient items can be efficiently located for updating.
  • GPS global positioning system
  • the present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by providing a communication module for an asset to be monitored.
  • the module operates to periodically receive a signal from a monitoring facility via a first wireless communication system, and in response to the absence of the signal at an expected time, communicating with the module via a second wireless system.
  • the first system may be a short range system operating inside a limited facility, and the second system may be a cellular phone system.
  • the module may include a global positioning receiver, so that the module may report its location via the second system to the monitoring system when it is taken from the transmission range of the first system.
  • Figure 1 is a high-level block diagram showing the environment in which the facility preferably operates.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an instrument tracking module according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the facility may be one or more buildings, such as warehouses, or open areas in a limited space, nomially private or restricted property controlled by the user.
  • the facility contains a short range wireless communication system having one or more base transceiver stations 14 that are installed in the facility in sufficient numbers and distributed locations to provide full wireless communication coverage for the entire interior of the facility.
  • Each base station 14 includes a transceiver and antenna 16, and a controller 20.
  • the controllers are connected to a central computer 22 in the facility, or connected to the components in the facility.
  • the computer 22 is connected to a telecommunication network 24, such as provided by the Internet, an iniemal network, or a public switched telephone network.
  • a number of equipment assets 26 to be tracked may be located anywhere, inside of or outside of the facility.
  • each of these assets includes a communication module that communicates with the facility transceivers 14, with a cellular network 30 connected to the telecommunication network, and with a satellite-based global position system (GPS) 32.
  • GPS global position system
  • a monitoring center 34 connected to the network 26 receives and coordinates communications from the asset modules.
  • the facility's internal wireless communication system is preferably a radio frequency system operating on a 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) frequency band designated by the FCC as a license-free band.
  • ISM International, Scientific, Medical
  • This provides broadcast and reception range of about 1000 feet, so that larger facilities may require more than one base station.
  • An advantage of this mode is that the low power spread spectrum transceivers do not affect nearby equipment that might otherwise be susceptible to radio frequency energy generated in other modes, such as by cellular transmitters.
  • more base stations may be required if the space is subdivided into rooms by walls that impede transmission of signals, hi alternative embodiments, different frequency bands may be employed.
  • FIG. 2 shows a portable electronic equipment asset 26. which includes a tracking communication module 36.
  • the module includes a short range transceiver 40 and associated antenna 42 that communicate with the facility base stations 14 when the asset is in the facility.
  • a cellular transceiver &4 and associated cellular antenna 46 operate to communicate with the cellular system 30 when the asset is outside of the facility.
  • a GPS receiver 50 and associated antenna 52 operate to receive signals from satellites 32, from which the receiver calculates its location.
  • a controller 54 includes microprocessor circuitry programmed to coordinate communication by each of the above elements, and may be integrated with or connected to other circuitry in the asset. Such integration may be used so that the controller disables or enables the asset function depending on communication status (e.g. disabling the device if taken out of an authorized area by a presumed thief.)
  • the controller may also read information from the device, including asset configuration, identifying number, asset options, software revision level, and hardware revision level, so thai one of the transceivers can report this information to the central system. This permits the system to generate benefits other than security and inventorying. For instance, calibration and updates may be scheduled, either centrally, or by a report generated in the asset that a calibration or update is due.
  • the module includes a dedicated rechargeable battery 56 that powers the module when the asset is discomiected from an external power source.
  • a charger 60 is connected to the device power supply to charge the battery when the device is connected to power for normal operation, hi the preferred embodiment, the short range transceiver 40 includes a 2.4 GHz modem.
  • the cellular transceiver 44 may essentially consist of CDMA, TDMA, GSM or AMPS cellular telephone circuitry, with an analog modem converting digital signals to and from the controller into analog signals transmissible via cellular transmission.
  • the circuitiy of the communication tracking module 36 is shown as having separate components for each function. However, the various functions may integrated onto fewer components to reduce size and cost. Further, the module components may be integrated with other circuitry of the asset, at least in part as a security measure against unauthorized disablement or removal of the tracking circuitry.
  • the facility central computer 22 operates to regularly poll all assets in the facility to verify their presence.
  • a polling signal is sent out to each of the assets, which reply with identifying information.
  • the system may send out a single call for reports from the assets, which may reply sequentially or simultaneously.
  • the reply may also include location information enabling the asset to be located within the facility, as well as other device status information noted above. Different devices may be polled at different selected intervals, and polling may be conducted automatically, or manually, such as in response to a user's need for a particular type of asset.
  • Each asset may operate using receipt of the polling signal as an optional "keep alive" signal, so that the asset is disabled if it does not receive the signal. Thus, a device that has been taken from the facility is disabled until it is returned.
  • an authorization code may be entered to permit operation (this may be integrated with verification measures associated with remote cellular communication discussed below.)
  • an asset may be programmed to respond in several different ways, which may be employed separately or in combination. As noted above, it may disable itself in the absence of a "keep alive" signal.
  • the module upon removal from the facility, responds to the lack of an expected polling signal at a selected time by initiating a cellular telephone transmission to the monitoring center.
  • the call may be delayed any amount of time as needed.
  • an immediate call may be appropriate to prevent theft.
  • a delay may be appropriate (e.g. a checked out municipal bus might not report its location until after the end of the expected shift, so that normal use does not trigger a cellular report, but failure to return promptly does.)
  • the monitoring center may be a central agency serving many different independent users, or which may be on the site of the user, and connected directly to or integrated with the control computer 22.
  • the module controller may activate the GPS circuitry to establish the current location of the asset, and transmit this location information to the monitoring center.
  • the device may remain passive, so that action must be taken by the tracking computer.
  • the system calls the cellular transceiver of the missing asset to receive a report of its whereabouts. This has the disadvantage of requiring the cellular phone to be powered up fin a receiving mode, depleting batteries.
  • conservation measures such as cycling the receiver on only at periodic intervals known to the system limit power consumption.
  • the tracking computer is alerted by the absence of a response to the short range wireless signal in the facility. Consequently, the tracking system may lake action to track down the asset, h cases where the asset is expected to be out of the facility for a pre-established period of time (such as if it is checked out for a temporary off-site job), the computer may take no action, unless the device does not return as expected.
  • This strategy is suitable for users having multiple facilities between which assets are transported, where each facility has its own sort range wireless tracking system. In such cases, the computer may allow a grace period for the device to return to a facility, before initiating cellular location efforts.
  • Another operating mode provides a virtual "fence" within which the asset may tolerably be located, and outside of which it is not permitted to be moved.
  • This fence may be preprogrammed into the controller as acceptable location values to be generated by the GPS unit. When GPS-generated location values depart from the acceptable domain, a cellular reporting call is initiated.
  • the module may include safeguards that disable the asset if it is kept out of cellular range for more than a selected period of time. For instance, to prevent a thief from secreting and using an asset in a shielded or remote area away from cellular coverage (assuming the absence of a keep-alive system), so that the owner could not located it via the GPS/cellular link, the device may be programmed to become disabled. An extended grace may be allowed, so that an authorized user may temporarily use the asset in a remote or shielded location. For extended use away from cellular coverage, a wired telephone line may be connected to the module to report location information, and to enable any keep-alive signals to be transmitted from the monitoring center.
  • Additional functionality may include using the wireless transport to provide software upgrades to the device; provide "data downloads" to the device that may update certain configuration information of the device.
  • Other remote diagnostics could also take place during the connection to the wireless network While the above is discussed in terms of preferred and alternative embodiments, the invention is not intended to be so limited.
  • other communication modes may be used. These may include email, pager, satellite modes, in addition to other local transmission modes such as the optical modes discussed above.
  • the modules may include other security features, such as motion, video and audio sensors that allow transmission of additional information about the environment into which the asset has been taken. Such information may be used to prosecute wrongdoers, and to deter future wrongdoing.
  • Various combinations of the different features above may be employed without departing from the concept of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un module (36) de communication destiné à un bien (26) devant faire l'objet d'une surveillance. Ce module reçoit périodiquement un signal envoyé par l'unité de surveillance, par l'intermédiaire d'un premier système (20) de communication sans fil et, en réponse à l'absence de signal au moment escompté, la communication avec le module est établie par l'intermédiaire d'un second système (44) de communication sans fil. Le premier système peut être un système à portée réduite fonctionnant à l'intérieur d'un établissement limité, et le second système peut être un système téléphonique cellulaire. Le module peut comprendre un récepteur (50) GPS, de sorte que le module peut indiquer sa position au système de surveillance par l'intermédiaire du second système de communication lorsqu'il se trouve en dehors de la portée d'émission du premier système de communication.
PCT/US2002/000996 2002-01-14 2002-01-14 Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels WO2003060847A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002239909A AU2002239909A1 (en) 2002-01-14 2002-01-14 Facility and method for tracking physical assets
PCT/US2002/000996 WO2003060847A1 (fr) 2002-01-14 2002-01-14 Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2002/000996 WO2003060847A1 (fr) 2002-01-14 2002-01-14 Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003060847A1 true WO2003060847A1 (fr) 2003-07-24

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/000996 WO2003060847A1 (fr) 2002-01-14 2002-01-14 Installation et procede de localisation de biens materiels

Country Status (2)

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AU (1) AU2002239909A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003060847A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1583054A1 (fr) * 2004-03-30 2005-10-05 Manfred Wolf Dispositif pour localiser et tracer des objets volés, en particulier voitures et véhicules de construction
GB2445981A (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-30 Convert Asset Tracking Systems Tracking device combining a GPS, cellular and RF chip
EP2767002A4 (fr) * 2011-10-16 2015-08-05 Mashinery Pty Ltd Localisation et suivi d'objet
US9942710B2 (en) 2015-08-04 2018-04-10 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Determination of location of a mobile device
US10460308B2 (en) 2015-08-12 2019-10-29 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P Crowd-location based transactions
US10973083B2 (en) 2016-11-15 2021-04-06 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Multiple mesh drone communication
US11039002B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2021-06-15 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Context sensitive communication augmentation
US11144048B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2021-10-12 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Remote provisioning of a drone resource
US12219432B2 (en) 2022-09-23 2025-02-04 Insight Direct Usa, Inc. Dynamic asset tracking

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4598272A (en) * 1984-08-06 1986-07-01 Cox Randall P Electronic monitoring apparatus
US4656463A (en) * 1983-04-21 1987-04-07 Intelli-Tech Corporation LIMIS systems, devices and methods
US5621388A (en) * 1993-06-10 1997-04-15 Sherburne; Glenn M. System for monitoring and locating a person within a preselected distance from a base-station
US5751246A (en) * 1995-04-04 1998-05-12 Itt Industries, Inc. Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system
US5825283A (en) * 1996-07-03 1998-10-20 Camhi; Elie System for the security and auditing of persons and property
US5963134A (en) * 1997-07-24 1999-10-05 Checkpoint Systems, Inc. Inventory system using articles with RFID tags
US6057756A (en) * 1995-06-07 2000-05-02 Engellenner; Thomas J. Electronic locating systems
US6300875B1 (en) * 1999-11-22 2001-10-09 Mci Worldcom, Inc. Method and apparatus for high efficiency position information reporting
US6304186B1 (en) * 1998-08-12 2001-10-16 Michael C. Rabanne System for tracking possessions

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4656463A (en) * 1983-04-21 1987-04-07 Intelli-Tech Corporation LIMIS systems, devices and methods
US4598272A (en) * 1984-08-06 1986-07-01 Cox Randall P Electronic monitoring apparatus
US5621388A (en) * 1993-06-10 1997-04-15 Sherburne; Glenn M. System for monitoring and locating a person within a preselected distance from a base-station
US5751246A (en) * 1995-04-04 1998-05-12 Itt Industries, Inc. Accountability and theft protection via the global positioning system
US6057756A (en) * 1995-06-07 2000-05-02 Engellenner; Thomas J. Electronic locating systems
US5825283A (en) * 1996-07-03 1998-10-20 Camhi; Elie System for the security and auditing of persons and property
US5963134A (en) * 1997-07-24 1999-10-05 Checkpoint Systems, Inc. Inventory system using articles with RFID tags
US6304186B1 (en) * 1998-08-12 2001-10-16 Michael C. Rabanne System for tracking possessions
US6300875B1 (en) * 1999-11-22 2001-10-09 Mci Worldcom, Inc. Method and apparatus for high efficiency position information reporting

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1583054A1 (fr) * 2004-03-30 2005-10-05 Manfred Wolf Dispositif pour localiser et tracer des objets volés, en particulier voitures et véhicules de construction
GB2445981A (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-30 Convert Asset Tracking Systems Tracking device combining a GPS, cellular and RF chip
EP2767002A4 (fr) * 2011-10-16 2015-08-05 Mashinery Pty Ltd Localisation et suivi d'objet
US9599695B2 (en) 2011-10-16 2017-03-21 Maxwell Forest Pty Ltd Object location and tracking
US11144048B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2021-10-12 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Remote provisioning of a drone resource
US11039002B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2021-06-15 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Context sensitive communication augmentation
US11644829B2 (en) 2015-06-05 2023-05-09 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Remote provisioning of a drone resource
US10271170B2 (en) 2015-08-04 2019-04-23 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Determination of location of a mobile device
US9942710B2 (en) 2015-08-04 2018-04-10 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Determination of location of a mobile device
US10460308B2 (en) 2015-08-12 2019-10-29 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P Crowd-location based transactions
US10973083B2 (en) 2016-11-15 2021-04-06 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Multiple mesh drone communication
US12219432B2 (en) 2022-09-23 2025-02-04 Insight Direct Usa, Inc. Dynamic asset tracking
US12238616B2 (en) 2022-09-23 2025-02-25 Insight Direct Usa, Inc. Dynamic asset tracking

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