System and method for tracking people

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus system and method for tracking assets in a geographic. The apparatus comprises a tracker securable to the asset a position sensor operable to determine a location of the tracker and transmit that location over radio signal selected to be less than 14 dBm and communicate with a user device over a short range wireless protocol. The system comprises the tracker a plurality of receivers distributed across the geographic location operable to receive and transmit locations of each tracker and a user device operable to receive a position of one or more other apparatuses for presentation to a user. The method comprises transmitting the location of a first tracker through the plurality of gateways to a second tracker over low power radio transmissions and transmitting the location of the first tracker to a user device over short range wireless protocol from a second tracker.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING PEOPLE

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] 1. Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure relates generally to tracking people and objects and in particular to an apparatus, system and method for tracking people and objects in remote or low service environments.

[0005] 2. Description of Related Art

[0006] Objects and people are often required to be tracked and located. A common method of such tracking is the use of global positioning sensors (GPS) in conjunction with cellular transmitters to indicate the object or person to a third party or remote location.

[0007] Disadvantageously, some locations are not amenable to such GPS / cellular tracking systems. In particular, remote locations, such as ski resorts, present unique challenges for tracking individuals due to vast areas and limited cellular connectivity. Further disadvantages of conventional cellular trackers is the relatively high power consumption of such devices.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0009] According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is an apparatus for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising a body securable to the asset a position sensor operable to determine a location of the body and a low power radio transceiver having an output selected to be less than 14 dBm. The apparatus further comprises a processor operable to transmit the location of the apparatus from the position sensor to a remote receiver and operable to receive the position of at least one other apparatus through the transceiver and a short range wireless transmitter operable to transmit a position of one or more other apparatuses to a user device.

[0010] The body may further include an accelerometer operable to provide a movement signal to the processor for inclusion in the transmission to the remotereceiver. The processor may be configured to transmit to the remote receiver at timed intervals. The low power radio transceiver may comprise a LoRaWAN transceiver. The short range wireless transmitter may comprise a Bluetooth transmitter.

[0011] The at least one other apparatuses may be assigned to a common account with the apparatus. The asset may comprise a person. The apparatus may further include a strap for securing the body to an appendage of the person.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising at least one tracker securable to at least one asset, the tracker including a body securable to the asset, a position sensor operable to determine a location of the tracker and a low power radio transceiver having an output selected to be less than 14 dBm. The tracker further includes a processor operable to transmit the location of the apparatus from the position sensor to a remote receiver and operable to receive the position of at least one other apparatus through the transceiver and a short range wireless transmitter. The system further comprises a plurality of receivers distributed across the geographic location operable to receive and transmit locations of each tracker and a user device operable to receive a position of one or more other apparatuses for presentation to a user.

[0013] The body may further include an accelerometer operable to provide a movement signal to the processor for inclusion in the transmission to the remote receiver. The processor may be configured to transmit to the remote receiver at timed intervals. The low power radio transceiver may comprise a LoRaWAN transceiver. The short range wireless transmitter may comprise a Bluetooth transmitter.

[0014] The at least one other apparatuses may assigned to a common account with the apparatus. The asset may comprise a person. The system may further include a strap for securing the body to an appendage of the person.The user device may comprise a smart phone. The system may further comprise an application on the smart phone operable to display a location of at least one other tracker associated with the apparatus. The application may be configured to display a historical path of the first tracker.

[0015] The system may further comprise a computing device operably connected to the at least one remote receivers, the computing device containing identification of a plurality of trackers and associated links between at least two of the plurality of trackers to each other such that the position of one of the associated trackers is transmitted to the other of the associated trackers for display on a connected user device.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising providing a first tracker securable to at least one asset, transmitting from the body to at least one of a plurality of gateways, with a radio signal less than 14 dBm, the location of the first tracker and receiving at a processor, the location of the first tracker. The method further comprises defining a second tracker associated with the first tracker in a common user account, transmitting from at least one of the gateways to a second tracker with a radio signal less than 14 dBm and transmitting the location of the first tracker from the second tracker to a user device connected to the second tracker through a short range wireless transmission protocol. The method may further comprise displaying the location of the first tracker on the user device.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings constitute part of the disclosure. Each drawing illustrates exemplary aspects wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

[0019] Figure 1 is an illustration of a system for tracking an asset at a remote location according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for tracking an asset in the system of Figure 1.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus of Figure 2.Figure 4 is a schematic view of the server for use in tracking assets in the system of Figure 1.

[0021] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of a user interface on a user device coupled to the apparatus of Figure 2.

[0022] Figure 6 is a representation of a database for use in managing the tracking system of Figure 1.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Referring to Figure 1, an exemplary system fortracking an asset within a remote location is illustrated generally at 10. As utilized herein, the term asset will refer to an object or a person 8 that is desired to be tracked. The system 10 comprises a tracker apparatus 12 having a position sensor therein and a low power transmitter operable to transmit a low power, long range signal to at least one gateway 50 positioned around the geographic location. By way of nonlimiting example and as illustrated in Figure 1, the system 10 may be applied to a location having reduced cellular coverage, such as by-way of non-limiting example, a ski hill. As such locations, the receivers 40 may be secured to chairlift towers, 42 or any other location as desired. The system receives the location of a first tracker 12a located on or with a first person 8a as transmitted to the one of the gateways 40 through a low power radio transmission which is then further transmitted to a second tracker 12b on or with a second person 8b wherein the second tracker 12b transmits that location to a user device 30, such as by way of non-limiting example, a smart phone, tablet or the like.

[0025] Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, an exemplary tracker 12 is illustrated. The apparatus 12 comprises a body 14 having a processor 18, GPS sensor 20 and a low power radio transceiver 22 therein operable to send and transmit through a low power, wide range transmission protocol to one of the gateways 40. The processor is operable to receive an output from the GPS sensor indicating the current position of the apparatus transmit, using the low power transmitter such current position. The low power radio transceiver 22 is selected receive a low level radio signal at a predefined frequency and data transmission rate, such as, by way of non-limiting example a LoRaWAN signal with a sensitivity of -128dBmat 980 bits per second (bps). It will be appreciated that other sensitivities and data rages within the LoRaWAN protocol may also be utilized. The tracker 12 furthermore includes a short-range wireless transceiver therein operable to transmit information to and optionally from the connected user device 30 as will be further set out below. The transceiver 22 may be configured to transmit the location continuously or may be configured to transmit the location of the tracker 12 at predefined intervals. The processor 18 may also be configured to store the location of the tracker and transmit batches of the location to the gateway or may optionally be configured to store the location at times when the processor identifies that the tracker is not in range of a gateway and thereafter transmit the location when the tracker is in range of a gateway.

[0026] The radio transceiver 22 is selected to provide a low power, wide area signal to the gateway 40. By way of non-limiting example, the signal protocol may be selected to be the LoRaWAN protocol although other low power wide area protocols may also be utilized. The short-range transmitter may include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NearLink, near-field communication (NFC), LPWAN, ultra-wideband (UWB) and IEEE 802.15, by way of non-limiting example. As utilized herein, the gateway will be understood as a bi-directional transceiver operable to receive and transmit the radio signals selected for use with the radio transceiver 22 in the tracker.

[0027] The apparatus 12 may be securable to an asset by any known means. By way of non-limiting example, for use in tracking the location of a person, the apparatus may include a strap 14 for attaching the apparatus to an arm, leg or any other body part of that person.

[0028] Turning now to Figure 4, a server 100 or control system for use in the system of Figure 1 is illustrated. In particular, the server comprises a server processor 102, a database 106 having a record of a plurality of trackers 12, a server 104 memory 104 and an input output device 108. As indicated, the database 106 contains a record of all trackers 12 operable to be located within the system. A user may dynamically select which tracker is assigned to a person or object fortracking and may also associate one or more trackers to each other in the database such that a first tracker 12a is locatable by a user or a wearer of an associated second tracker 12b. The input / output device may comprise any suitable user interface for providing access to and control of the database, including without limitation, a computer, terminal, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen or a wireless or wired connection to another device capable of providing such input and control of the database and processor.

[0029] The server processor 102 is operably coupled with the one or more gateways 40 to receive signals from each tracker 12 as to the location of that tracker and thereafter cause one or more of the gateways 40 to transmit the location of a first tracker 12a to an associated second tracker 12b. The second tracker 12b is configured to thereafter transmit this location of the first tracker 12a to the connected user device 30 for display to a user.

[0030] The user device 30, may include, without limitation, a cell phone, tablet, computer or any other computing device operable to display the position of that apparatus. The database 106 may include a register of a plurality of apparatuses and user accounts for display on each user device. In operation, an administrator may assign each apparatus to a particular user account such that that the position of the apparatus is discoverable and displayable to that user on their user device while that apparatus is associated with that user device and account.

[0031] More generally, in this specification, the term "processor" for either the tracker processor or the server processor is intended to broadly encompass any type of device or combination of devices capable of performing the functions described herein, including (without limitation) other types of microprocessors, microcontrollers, other integrated circuits, other types of circuits or combinations of circuits, logic gates or gate arrays, or programmable devices of any sort, for example, either alone or in combination with other such devices located at the same location or remotely from each other. Additional types of processor(s) will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon reviewof this specification, and substitution of any such other types of processor(s) is considered not to depart from the scope of the present invention as defined herein. In various embodiments, the processor 102 can be implemented as a single-chip, multiple chips and / or other electrical components including one or more integrated circuits and printed circuit boards.

[0032] Computer code comprising instructions for the processor(s) to carry out the various embodiments, aspects, features, etc. of the present disclosure may reside in the memory 26 or 104, within the processor 18 or 102 or be obtained from outside the system. The code may be broken into separate routines, products, etc. to carry forth specific steps disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the processor 18 or 102 can be implemented as a single-chip, multiple chips and / or other electrical components including one or more integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. The processor 18 or 102 together with a suitable operating system may operate to execute instructions in the form of computer code and produce and use data. By way of example and not by way of limitation, the operating system may be Windows-based, Mac-based, or Unix or Linux-based, among other suitable operating systems. Operating systems are generally well known and will not be described in further detail here.

[0033] Memory 26 or 104 may include various tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media including Read-Only Memory (ROM) and / or Random-Access Memory (RAM). As is well known in the art, ROM acts to transfer data and instructions un i-di rectional ly to the processor 18 or 102, and RAM is used typically to transfer data and instructions in a bi-directional manner. In the various embodiments disclosed herein, RAM includes computer program instructions that when executed by the processor 102 cause the processor 18 or 102 to execute the program instructions described in greater detail below. More generally, the term “memory” as used herein encompasses one or more storage mediums and generally provides a place to store computer code (e.g., software and / or firmware) and data. It may comprise, for example, electronic, optical, magnetic, or any other storage or transmission device capable of providing the processor 102 with program instructions. Memory 26 or 104 may further include a floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic disk, memory chip, ASIC, FPGA, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory, optical media, or any other suitable memory from which processor 102 can read instructions in computer programming languages.

[0034] In operation, the tracker processor 18 causes the radio transceiver 22 to transmit to the gateway 40 the position of the tracker 12 as measured by the GPS sensor 20. The gateway 40 relays such measured position and the identify of the tracker 12 to server processor 102 or other remote location for collection and recording. The server processor 102 looks up the identification of that first tracker 12a and identifies any associated trackers such as the second tracker 12b and thereafter causes the gateways 40 to transmit the location of the first tracker 12a to the second tracker 12b. The second tracker 12b thereafter forwards the location of the first tracker 12a to a connected user device 30. In particular, a first tracker 12a may be located on a child 8a at a ski hill by way of non-limiting example. In such an example, the second tracker 12b may be located on a parent 8b of that child 8a wherein the parent has a cell phone, or user device 30 with them that is connected through the blue tooth or other short range wireless protocol to their tracker 12b. In operation, the system 10 transmits the location of the first tracker 12a and therefore the child 8a to the parent’s cell phone without the use of a cellular signal

[0035] T urning now to Figure 5, a display on a user device or cell phone 30 is illustrated. In particular the user device 30 includes a screen 32. An application as is commonly known may be configured to process the information received by the second tracker 12b. The application may include a map that is preloaded to the application and shows one or more paths 34a and 34b around the geographic location. The application may be configured to illustrate the location of each tracker 12a, 12b and 12c on the screen so as to indicate to a user, such as a parent, the location of each child or other person in that region.

[0036] T urning now to Figure 6, an illustration of a database is shown for associating one or more trackers with each other for locating each other is shown generally at 200. Such record and grouping of the trackers may be contained within the applicationon the user device 30 or within the server database 106. The database 200 may include a record of a plurality of trackers 204 with ID information 202 that are associated with a lead or parent tracker 204. Within the database, a user may be able to designate each tracker that associated with that account of the lead tracker as either active or inactive in column 206. Optionally, the database may allow for a user to allow bi-directional locating or may only allow for a parent or lead device to know the location of the child or secondary devices in column 208.

[0037] Optionally, the position data of a tracker 12 may be recorded and stored within the database 106 for later processing or display to a user. For example such record may indicate a path of a tracker 12 during a predetermined time period, such as, by way of non-limiting example, the path of a child 8a over the course of a day at a ski hill.

[0038] Optionally, the input / output device 108 may be operable to display or indicate a location of a tracker 12 to an operator. Such indication may be required when an asset, such as a child 8a is required to be located.

[0039] Optionally, the gateways 40 and trackers 12 may be configured to transmit brief messages or signals to each other in addition to location of another tracker. Examples of such messages may be an indication from a parent 8b through their cell phone 30 and transmitted through the second tracker 12b, gateways 40 and first tracker to a child’s cell phone 30 that it is time to return to a designated location. Optionally, the tracker 12 may include an indicator operable to provide an alert as requested by another user, such as by way of non-limiting example, a sound or light device.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the tracker 12 may include additional elements, including without limitation, accelerometers, motion or impact detectors operable to detect the speed or velocity of the tracker. Such features may be useful for providing an indication to a parent when an accident or impact has occurred or for monitoring the safe movement of the child.While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the disclosure as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising:a body securable to the asset;a position sensor operable to determine a location of the body;a low power radio transceiver having an output selected to be less than 14 dBm:a processor operable to transmit the location of the apparatus from the position sensor to a remote receiver and operable to receive the position of at least one other apparatus through the transceiver; anda short range wireless transmitter operable to transmit a position of one or more other apparatuses to a user device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body may further include an accelerometer operable to provide a movement signal to the processor for inclusion in the transmission to the remote receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to transmit to the remote receiver at timed intervals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low power radio transceiver comprises a LoRaWAN transceiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the short range wireless transmitter comprise a Bluetooth transmitter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one other apparatuses are assigned to a common account with the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the asset comprise a person.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further including a strap for securing the body to an appendage of the person.

9. A system for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising:at least one tracker securable to at least one asset, the tracker including:a body securable to the asset;a position sensor operable to determine a location of the tracker;a low power radio transceiver having an output selected to be less than 14 dBm:a processor operable to transmit the location of the apparatus from the position sensor to a remote receiver and operable to receive the position of at least one other apparatus through the transceiver; anda short range wireless transmitter;a plurality of receivers distributed across the geographic location operable to receive and transmit locations of each tracker; anda user device operable to receive a position of one or more other apparatuses for presentation to a user.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the body may further include an accelerometer operable to provide a movement signal to the processor for inclusion in the transmission to the remote receiver.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to transmit to the remote receiver at timed intervals.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the low power radio transceiver comprises a LoRaWAN transceiver.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the short range wireless transmitter comprise a Bluetooth transmitter.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one other apparatuses are assigned to a common account with the apparatus.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the asset comprise a person.

16. The system of claim 9 further including a strap for securing the body to an appendage of the person.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the user device comprises a smart phone.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising an application on the smart phone operable to display a location of at least one other tracker associated with the apparatus.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the application is configured to display a historical path of the first tracker.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising a computing device operably connected to the at least one remote receivers, the computing device containing identification of a plurality of trackers and associated links between at least two of the plurality of trackers to each other such that the position of one of the associated trackers is transmitted to the other of the associated trackers for display on a connected user device.

21. A method for tracking assets in a geographic location comprising:providing a first tracker securable to at least one asset;transmitting from the body to at least one of a plurality of gateways, with a radio signal less than 14 dBm, the location of the first tracker;receiving at a processor, the location of the first tracker;defining a second tracker associated with the first tracker in a common user account;transmitting from at least one of the gateways to a second tracker with a radio signal less than 14 dBm; andtransmitting the location of the first tracker from the second tracker to a user device connected to the second tracker through a short range wireless transmission protocol.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising displaying the location of the first tracker on the user device.

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