BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to a system and method for monitoring location, and more specifically to a system and method for enabling communication with a tracking device.

Background Art

Currently, systems exist for tracking the location of persons and/or property. Generally, such systems include a tracking device that transmits the location of the tracking device to a central station, which may then take some action based on the location data.

Known systems have generally been very limited with respect to the communication capabilities between the tracking device and the central station. For example, communications from a tracking device to a central station have typically been limited to the transmission of a device identifier in combination with location data and, in some cases, a distress signal.

Perhaps, the limited communication between tracking devices and central stations has evolved due to the disadvantages of prior art tracking systems. For example, in personal tracking devices power consumption is a serious concern, because the devices power storage capacity is a limiting factor with respect to the amount of communication that can take place. Another concern is the cost of network access (e.g., mobile phone air time).

What is needed is a system and method for providing enhanced communication with tracking devices. What is also needed is a system and method for providing enhanced communication with tracking devices, while minimizing power consumption. What is also needed is a system and method for providing enhanced communication with tracking devices, while minimizing network air time.

SUMMARY

A system and method for providing communication with a tracking device is disclosed. The inventor has discovered that several advantages are provided by the communication system and methods disclosed herein. These advantages include the efficient use of network access time and the conservation of tracking device power. Additional advantages include enhanced efficiency and flexibility in the communication of location data from tracking devices. Yet another advantage is that functional access (e.g., setting and/or resetting of functions, parameters, etc.) to the tracking device is provided to the central station. These and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following disclosure.

In a disclosed example, a tracking device includes a location detector, a communication device, memory, a processor, and a configuration routine. The location detector (e.g., a Global Positioning Satellite receiver) is operative to determine locations of the tracking device. The communication device (e.g., a cell phone modem) is operative to communicate with a remote system (e.g., a central station, subscriber server, etc.). The memory stores data and code, the data including location data determined by the location detector and configuration data. The processor is operative to execute the code to impart functionality to the tracking device. The functionality of the tracking device depends at least in part on the configuration data. The configuration routine is operative to modify the configuration data responsive to a communication from the remote system. Thus, functional access to the tracking device is provided to the remote system.

The tracking device can be configured and reconfigured in many ways. In one example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines an interval for communicating the location data to the remote system. In another example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines an interval for buffering the location data when the communication device is unable to communicate the location data to the remote system (e.g., out of communication range). The interval for buffering the location data can be, for example and without limitation, a time interval (e.g., every 30 minutes) or a distance interval (e.g., whenever the tracking device moves 50 yards). In yet another example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines a power state of the location detector. In yet another example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines a monitored condition with respect to the location of the tracking device (e.g., a “geofence”). For example and without limitation, the monitored condition can be a geographical area (e.g., circular or polygonal, etc.), a velocity, a distance, a time/distance relationship (e.g., a time the tracking device remains stationary), or any combination of these. In yet another example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines a threshold distance between one of the locations and subsequent ones of the locations for storing the subsequent ones of the locations (e.g., only buffer location data if the tracking device has moved at least the threshold distance). As even yet another example, the configuration data modifiable responsive to the communication from the remote system at least partially determines an interval for communicating diagnostic information from the tracking device to the remote system.

The example tracking device also includes a data transfer routine operative to communicate operational data between the tracking device and the remote system. In one example, the tracking device includes a battery and the data transfer routine responsive to a request from the server is operative to communicate data indicative of the status of the battery to the remote system. In another example, the data transfer routine responsive to a request from the server is operative to communicate data indicative of a radio signal strength to the remote system. In yet another example, the data transfer routine responsive to a request from the server is operative to communicate data indicative of a status of the location detector to the remote system. In yet another example, the data transfer routine responsive to a status of a monitored location condition (e.g., a geofence definition) is operative to communicate data indicative of a violation or satisfaction of the location condition to the remote system. As yet another example, the data transfer routine responsive to a request from the server is operative to communicate diagnostic data to the remote system.

Another feature of the example tracking device is that when the communication device is unable to establish a connection with the remote system, the location data is accumulated in the memory. Then, when the communication device is able to establish a connection with the remote server, the data transfer routine communicates the accumulated data to the remote system.

An example method for communicating with a tracking device is also disclosed. The method includes communicating with the tracking device via a wireless network and providing configuration data to the tracking device via the wireless network. The configuration data causes the tracking device to operate according to a first configuration. The method further includes receiving processed data from the tracking device. The processed data is generated by the tracking device in the first configuration. The method further includes providing new configuration data to the tracking device via the wireless network. The new configuration data changes the first configuration of the tracking device to a different configuration. The method further includes receiving additional processed data from the tracking device. The additional processed data is generated by the tracking device in the different configuration.

In the example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a location data reporting interval. In another example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a location data buffering interval. In yet another example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a power state of the tracking device. In yet another example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a location based condition that if violated or satisfied causes an indication of the violation or satisfaction of the location based condition to be communicated from the tracking device to the remote system. In yet another example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a diagnostic reporting interval. In yet another example method, the configuration data at least partially determines a distance threshold for buffering location data. In yet another example method, the processed data includes data indicative of a battery status of the tracking device. In yet another example method, the processed data includes data indicative of a radio signal strength determined by the tracking device. In yet another example method, the processed data includes data generated by a diagnostic routine of the tracking device.

Many other detailed examples are disclosed in the communication protocol specification set forth below.

