Tracking System with Law Enforcement Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tracking systems are not cost-effective for locating and retrieving missing or stolen assets, people, and animals, and they do not adequately protect privacy or ensure safety, especially for small, portable items and individuals, lacking coordination to prevent theft and facilitate recovery.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system that includes a call handler and database to determine involvement of law enforcement, using communication nodes to send and receive signals from tracking devices, and involving supervisors or law enforcement officials as necessary, with features like low-power tracking devices and protocols for customer verification and service payment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current tracking systems are used to locate lost or stolen assets, then location information can be obtained, but the systems are not cost-effective and not easily affordable to individual consumers or mass quantity purchasers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GPS receivers to capture satellite signals and create location data copies that can be transmitted through multiple communication channels (cellular networks, radio frequencies, internet protocols). This copying approach allows the same tracking functionality to be replicated across numerous devices without proportionally increasing costs, making the system affordable for mass deployment on portable assets.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking device is designed to perform multiple functions: GPS location tracking, cellular communication, radio frequency transmission, and internet data exchange. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single affordable device, improving cost-effectiveness while maintaining precise location tracking capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If current tracking systems are deployed for tracking people and animals, then location data can be collected, but privacy protection and safety assurance are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts tracking activation based on detected situations. The low-power mode allows the device to remain inactive until a triggering event occurs (such as motion detection, geofence boundary crossing, or emergency button press), at which point full tracking activates. This dynamic approach collects precise location data only when necessary, protecting privacy during normal periods while ensuring safety when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple intermediary layers between the tracking device and end users: encryption protocols protect data transmission, authentication mechanisms verify user identity, and controlled access procedures ensure only authorized personnel can view location data. These intermediaries maintain precise tracking capabilities while safeguarding against privacy violations and unauthorized access.
3Volume of moving object
If tracking devices are made portable and small, then they can be attached to assets, people and animals, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking device employs periodic action by switching between low-power sleep mode and active tracking mode. During normal operation, the device consumes minimal power while maintaining basic functionality. When tracking is needed, the device activates GPS and communication modules temporarily to transmit location data, then returns to low-power mode. This periodic operation enables small portable form factor while managing power consumption and extending battery life.
4Measurement precision
If comprehensive tracking coverage is achieved through multiple communication nodes, then location accuracy improves, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication protocols (GPS satellite signals, cellular networks, radio frequency transmissions, and internet data exchange) into a unified tracking system. Rather than operating as separate complex systems, these communication nodes are integrated to work together, with the device capable of using multiple channels simultaneously or as fallback options. This merging approach maintains high location accuracy while reducing overall system complexity through unified architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A tracking system includes a call handler and a database containing information relating to items to be tracked. The database contains customer identification criteria that guide the call handler to determine whether to track a tracked item for a customer. Communication nodes communicate with the customer, send a signal to a tracking device, receive a signal from the tracking device, and involve a law enforcement official in the communicating with the customer when appropriate.