US6510380B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security and tracking system
Assignee: C2 Global Technologies Inc USA
•
Filing: 2000-03-30
•
Granted: 2003-01-21
•
Expires: 2020-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A security and tracking apparatus is provided, comprising at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, and means for identifying the location of the signaling units. In one embodiment, a security and tracking apparatus is provided, comprising at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, and means for identifying and automatically transmitting the location of the signaling units when the signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance. In a preferred embodiment, a method is provided to locate a person, an animal, or a material asset, comprising providing in contact with the person, animal, or material asset, at least two signaling units in communicating proximity, wherein at least one signaling unit is small and hidden and securely attached to the person, animal, or material asset, and the signaling units having means for identifying the location of the signaling units to a monitoring station; activating means for identifying the location of the signaling units by referencing the global positioning satellite (GPS) system; and notifying the monitoring station of said geographic location.
Inventors
- 👤 Benedict S. Curatolo
- 👤 Thomas E. Cornelius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:43
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0205; G08B21/0211; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0018; G01S5/0036; G08B21/0213; G08B21/0227; G08B21/023; G08B21/028; G08B21/0283
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method to locate a person, animal, or material object, comprising: (a) providing in contact with the person, animal, or material object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, said second signaling unit in communicating proximity with said first signaling unit, each said signaling units having means for identifying the location of each said signaling units and means for transmitting the location of each said signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; (b) activating said means to identify the location; (c) transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units to a monitoring station; (d) transmitting the information identifying the location of the at least one of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver; and (e) transmitting the description of said individual, animal or material object from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method to locate a person, animal, or material object, comprising: (a) providing in contact with the person, animal, or material object, at least a first signaling unit and a second signaling unit, said second signaling unit in communicating proximity with said first signaling unit, each said signaling units having means for identifying the location of each said signaling units and means for transmitting the location of each said signaling units when the first and second signaling units are separated more than a preselected distance; (b) activating said means to identify the location; (c) transmitting the information identifying the location of at least one of the signaling units to a monitoring station; (d) transmitting the information identifying the location of the at least one of the signaling units from the monitoring station to a remote receiver; and (e) transmitting the description of said individual, animal or material object from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , including automatically activating the transmission of the location of the signaling units when said signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , including signaling the signaling units from a monitoring station to initiate the transmission of the information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , including activating at least one of the signaling units to initiate the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , including obtaining the location of the signaling units from the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , including obtaining the location of the signaling units within an unlimited range from a monitoring station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , including operating the signaling units in a passive mode when said signaling units are in communicating proximity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , including continuously transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , including intermittenty transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting in an encrypted for in the information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting additional information from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the description of the individual from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the description of the animal from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the description of the material object from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver using radio waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver using the internet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver using a telephone network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver using a cellular network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver using low earth orbit satellites.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units with an accuracy of about 100 meters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , including transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units with an accuracy of about 22 meters.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for automatically transmitting the location of each signaling unit when the signaling units are separated by more than a preselected distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for receiving an initiating signal for activating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for initiating the transmission of information identifying the location of the signaling units by at least one of the signaling units.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the signaling units is adapted to be hidden.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with low earth orbit satellites.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with a cellular network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is small enough to be able to be hidden in a wearable article.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of an article of clothing, a shoe, a watch, a wristband, a bracelet, an identification card, an article of jewelry, a hair accessory, eyeglasses, and an animal collar.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to the individual.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to the animal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is securely attached to the material object.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a credit card, a wallet, a cellular phone, a pager, a motor vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, a television, a radio, a stereo, a tape player, a compact disc player, a camera, a movie camera, a computer, a printer, a laptop computer, a briefcase, a suitcase, a weapon, an article of clothing, an article of jewelry, and an article of artwork.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one signaling unit is incorporated into at least one of a molded article, an extruded article, and a sewn article.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the mode of providing contact of at least one signaling unit is by means of an adhesive.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 38 , wherein the mode of providing contact of at least one signaling unit is by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for transmitting a continuous signal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for transmitting an intermittent signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said signaling units include means for transmitting an encrypted signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 , using a security and tracking system comprising: (a) a first of said signaling units having means for identifying the location of said signaling unit; (b) a second of said signaling units in communicating proximity with the first signaling unit, said second signaling unit having means for identifying the location of said second signaling unit;and (c) the monitoring station capable of receiving information identifying the location of said signaling units.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said monitoring station includes a means for transmitting information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 44 , wherein the location of the remote receiver is one of a law enforcement agency facility, a law enforcement vehicle, an emergency response vehicle, and an emergency care facility.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said security and tracking system include radio wave transmitting means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said security and tracking system include internet connecting means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said security and tracking system include telephone connecting means of transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said security and tracking system include cellular communicating means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein said security and tracking system include low earth orbit satellite communicating means for transmitting the information identifying the location of the signaling units from the monitoring station to the remote receiver.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with low earth orbit satellites.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the means for identifying the location of the signaling units includes antenna means for communicating with a cellular network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-20 | 2006-07-22 | 2007-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-20 | 2010-07-22 | 2011-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-20 | 2014-07-22 | 2015-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |