[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/

GB2398687A - People tracking - Google Patents

People tracking Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2398687A
GB2398687A GB0302099A GB0302099A GB2398687A GB 2398687 A GB2398687 A GB 2398687A GB 0302099 A GB0302099 A GB 0302099A GB 0302099 A GB0302099 A GB 0302099A GB 2398687 A GB2398687 A GB 2398687A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tracking system
individual
control station
signal
responsible person
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0302099A
Other versions
GB0302099D0 (en
Inventor
Clive A Crosby
Shy Keenan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SKYGUARDIAN Ltd
Original Assignee
SKYGUARDIAN Ltd
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 SKYGUARDIAN Ltd filed Critical SKYGUARDIAN Ltd
Priority to GB0302099A priority Critical patent/GB2398687A/en
Publication of GB0302099D0 publication Critical patent/GB0302099D0/en
Publication of GB2398687A publication Critical patent/GB2398687A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/20Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
    • G08G1/207Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08BSIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/123Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams
    • G08G1/127Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Position Fixing By Use Of Radio Waves (AREA)

Abstract

A tracking system for children, criminals etc comprises <SL> <LI>(1) a chip, implanted under the skin of the person to be tracked, or forming a wrist or ankle bracelet that cannot be removed <LI>(2) a combined GPS / GSM mobile telephone unit that can be removed <LI>(3) a control centre at a parent or probation officer. </SL> The combined unit transmits the position to the control centre regularly, in response to a command from the centre, in response to actuation by the wearer, in response to being in an excluded / forbidden area / zone, or due to the chip being too far from it. Multiple modes of operation, eg quiescent and active, are possible. The control centre may maintain a history of the user's movements. The use of two units ensures that the control centre is informed if the combined unit is removed. Alternatively the chip may be carried by a potential victim, and the control centre informed if the criminal and victim are too close.

Description

TRACKING OF PERSONS
This invention relates to tracking systems and in particular provides a system utilising satellite position technology and which enables the remote tracking of an individual person.
It is desirable to track individuals in at least two situations. One such situation arises with children or other potentially vulnerable people who may, for example, be subject to abduction and another such situation arises with people such as sex offenders or anyone else who are on probation or are otherwise subject to control of or limitations to their freedom of movement in that they may, for example, be excluded from school premises or proximity to play grounds.
Satellite-based technology for determination of geographical position, in terms either of co-ordinates of latitude and longitude or map reference, is already known and is usually referred to as "GPS" (global position system) technology. Mobile telephone systems may also be used for this purpose, based on co-ordinates derived from mobile telephone masts, usually referred to as "GSM" (global standard (or system) for mobiles) technology. Indeed, mobile telephones with incorporated positioning technology are commercially available and enable a person under threat of attack, for example, to make an alarm call which will provide an accurate location fix. There remains a need, however, for a system which can be remotely accessed or initiated to verify the whereabouts or movement history of a person whose whereabouts is required to be tracked or verified, for example for personal safety or public protection reasons.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a tracking system for an individual comprises apparatus incorporating signal-transmission means and equipped with position-determining means, a slave unit in communication with the apparatus and operative to activate the apparatus to transmit a signal under Redefined circumstances and a central control station having input means for signals transmitted by the apparatus, signal processing means and output means for signals from the control station to a responsible person.
Preferably, the control station also includes output means for activation of the apparatus on command by the responsible person.
T he signal-transmission apparatus may comprise a mobile telephone or a pager.
In use, the slave unit, which may for example comprise a chip which may be subcutaneously implanted in the individual or carried for example as part of a wrist or ankle bracelet, remains passive provided that it is in proximity (within a defined range) of the apparatus. However, an alarm condition will be initiated once the defined range is exceeded, which may happen for example if the apparatus has been discarded by the individual, whereupon the apparatus will automatically transmit a time and location signal to the control station which in turn will immediately notify the responsible person. An alarm condition will also be initiated if the individual, while the apparatus and slave unit are in communication with each other, enters an excluded area or zone as determined and programmed into the system using the geofencing or area tracking capability provided by the position-determining means.
The system according to the invention can be programmed so that, in a quiescent mode, the apparatus transmits position information to the control station at regular, albeit infrequent, time intervals, the control station recording such information to provide a profile of movement history of the individual. However, the system can be set to active mode on command from the responsible person through the control station, or at pre-programmed tinge intervals, to maintain a more frequent or even an ongoing dynamic interrogation of position.
Preferably, the apparatus includes means to initiate an alarm condition voluntarily by the individual so that, for example, in the case of a child or other vulnerable person under a perceived threat of attack or abduction, an alarm state can be transmitted to the control station for alerting a police officer as the responsible person or, in the case of a person subject to movement control under a perceived temptation to violate the movement conditions, an alarm state can be transmitted ultimately to the probation officer as the responsible person.
The position-determining means of the signal-transmission apparatus for use in a system according to the invention is preferably based on GPS technology and may be supplemented with GSM technology. Such technology not only enables position fixes to be obtained for transmission to the control station but also can be used to pass activation or passivation commands to the apparatus from the control station.
The invention in another aspect provides a method for tracking an individual, the method comprising the use of signal-transmission apparatus equipped with position-determining means to be voluntarily carried by the individual, a slave unit involuntarily carried by the individual, the slave unit being in communication with the apparatus and operative to activate the apparatus to transmit a position signal under predefined circumstances, and a central control station adapted to receive and process signals transmitted by the apparatus and to output an appropriate signal to a responsible person, whereby the responsible person is notified if the apparatus and slave units are separated by more than a predetermined threshold distance or if position signals transmitted by the apparatus indicate a position within a predetermined exclusion area or zone.
Having been alerted as to an alarm condition transmitted by the apparatus, the responsible person can initiate appropriate action, for example a search beginning at the last transmitted position or, if the apparatus is a telephone still about the person of the individual, a telephone call for example from a probation officer to the individual in an attempt to prevent an offence taking place.
Optionally, using the system according to the invention, slave units may be carried by vulnerable persons to generate an alarm signal in the apparatus when the vulnerable person and the individual come into mutual proximity. Thus, for example, a slave unit carried by a child would initiate an alarm if the child was approached by a paedophile carrying apparatus for use in the inventive system. .

Claims (17)

  1. Claims 1. A tracking system for an individual comprising apparatus
    incorporating signal-transmission means and equipped with position-determining means, a slave unit in communication with the apparatus and operative to activate the apparatus to transmit a signal under predefined circumstances and a central control station having input means for signals transmitted by the apparatus, signal processing means and output means for signals from the control station to a responsible person.
  2. 2. A tracking system according to claim 1, in which the control station includes output means for activation of the apparatus on command by the responsible person.
  3. 3. A tracking system according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the signaltransmission means comprises a mobile telephone or a pager.
  4. 4. A tracking system according to any proceeding claim, in which the slave unit comprises a chip.
  5. 5. A tracking system according to claim 4, in which the chip is subcutaneously implanted in the individual or carried as part of a wrist or ankle bracelet.
  6. 6. A tracking system according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus includes means for initiating an alarm control once a defined range between the slave unit and the apparatus is exceeded.
  7. 7. A tracking system according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus includes means for initiating an alarm control once the apparatus enters a predetermined excluded area or zone.
  8. 8. A tracking system according to claim 7, in which the excluded area or zone is programmed into the system using a geofencing or area tracking capability provided by the position-determining means.
  9. 9. A tracking system according to any of claims 6 to 8, in which the apparatus includes means automatically transmitting a time and location signal to the control station which in turn will immediately notify the responsible person once the alarm condition has been initiated.
  10. 10. A tracking system according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus, in a quiescent mode, transmits position information to the control station.
  11. 11. A tracking system according to claim 10, in which the control station recording such position information provides a profile of movement history of the individual.
  12. 12. A tracking system according to claims 10 or 11, in which the system can be set to active mode on command from the responsible person through the control station, or at pre-programmed time intervals, to maintain a more frequent or ongoing dynamic interrogation of position.
  13. 13. A tracking system according to any preceding claim, in which the apparatus includes means to initiate an alarm condition voluntarily by the individual.
  14. 14. A tracking system according to any preceding claim, in which the position-determining means of the signal-transmission apparatus is based on GPS technology
  15. 15. A tracking system according to any of claims 1 to 13, in which the position-determining means is supplemented with GSM technology.
  16. 16. A method for tracking an individual, the method comprising the use of signal-transmission apparatus equipped with position-determining means to be voluntarily carried by the individual, a slave unit involuntarily carried by the individual, the slave unit being in communication with the apparatus and operative to activate the apparatus to transmit a position signal under predefined circumstances, and a central control station adapted to receive and process signals transmitted by the apparatus and to output an appropriate signal to a responsible person, whereby the responsible person is notified if the apparatus and slave units are separated by more than a predetermined threshold distance or if position signals transmitted by the apparatus indicate a position within a predetermined exclusion area or zone.
  17. 17.A method according to claim 16, in which the system slave units are carried by vulnerable persons to generate an alarm signal in the apparatus when the vulnerable person and the individual come into mutual proximity.
GB0302099A 2003-01-29 2003-01-29 People tracking Withdrawn GB2398687A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0302099A GB2398687A (en) 2003-01-29 2003-01-29 People tracking

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0302099A GB2398687A (en) 2003-01-29 2003-01-29 People tracking

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0302099D0 GB0302099D0 (en) 2003-02-26
GB2398687A true GB2398687A (en) 2004-08-25

Family

ID=9952082

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0302099A Withdrawn GB2398687A (en) 2003-01-29 2003-01-29 People tracking

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2398687A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2420463A (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-24 Pro Tech Monitoring Inc House arrest tracking system
GB2424149A (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-09-13 John Kielty Bell Wireless security system for tracking an individual
WO2007090201A2 (en) * 2006-02-01 2007-08-09 Qualcomm Incorporated Method and apparatus for enhanced privacy while tracking mobile workers
WO2007090254A2 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-16 Negy Samara Nehmi TRACKING SYSTEM OF HUMAN BElNGS, ANIMALS OR OBJECTS
AU2006203711A1 (en) * 2006-08-27 2008-03-13 Hutcheson, Gavin James Mr GSM mobile watch phone
EP2091218A1 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-19 Laird Technologies AB System and device for use with separated wireless interface and user interface

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2247800A (en) * 1990-09-05 1992-03-11 Marconi Gec Ltd Location determining and transmitting arrangement
GB2270405A (en) * 1992-09-07 1994-03-09 David John Barron Tracking device
DE29713655U1 (en) * 1997-07-31 1998-10-29 Asbeck, Marc-Henric, 53173 Bonn Portable emergency call system
EP0892505A2 (en) * 1997-07-15 1999-01-20 STN ATLAS Elektronik GmbH Portable communication apparatus for system with satellites
GB2334173A (en) * 1995-02-20 1999-08-11 Micromill Electronics Ltd Position indication systems
WO1999049331A1 (en) * 1998-03-20 1999-09-30 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Mobile locating system
DE29910050U1 (en) * 1999-06-09 1999-12-02 Luckemeyer, Torsten, 58095 Hagen Position detector (PM)
JP2001155281A (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-08 Denso Corp Device and method for reporting emergency for vehicle
GB2377571A (en) * 2000-04-19 2003-01-15 Jeffrey Glen Intra oral electronic tracking device
US6510380B1 (en) * 1999-03-31 2003-01-21 C2 Global Technologies, Inc. Security and tracking system
GB2383216A (en) * 2001-12-14 2003-06-18 Nokia Corp Location of Mobile Devices

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2247800A (en) * 1990-09-05 1992-03-11 Marconi Gec Ltd Location determining and transmitting arrangement
GB2270405A (en) * 1992-09-07 1994-03-09 David John Barron Tracking device
GB2334173A (en) * 1995-02-20 1999-08-11 Micromill Electronics Ltd Position indication systems
EP0892505A2 (en) * 1997-07-15 1999-01-20 STN ATLAS Elektronik GmbH Portable communication apparatus for system with satellites
DE29713655U1 (en) * 1997-07-31 1998-10-29 Asbeck, Marc-Henric, 53173 Bonn Portable emergency call system
WO1999049331A1 (en) * 1998-03-20 1999-09-30 Koninklijke Kpn N.V. Mobile locating system
US6510380B1 (en) * 1999-03-31 2003-01-21 C2 Global Technologies, Inc. Security and tracking system
DE29910050U1 (en) * 1999-06-09 1999-12-02 Luckemeyer, Torsten, 58095 Hagen Position detector (PM)
JP2001155281A (en) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-08 Denso Corp Device and method for reporting emergency for vehicle
GB2377571A (en) * 2000-04-19 2003-01-15 Jeffrey Glen Intra oral electronic tracking device
GB2383216A (en) * 2001-12-14 2003-06-18 Nokia Corp Location of Mobile Devices

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
The Economist, August 17 2002 pp. 65-66 *

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2420463A (en) * 2004-11-15 2006-05-24 Pro Tech Monitoring Inc House arrest tracking system
GB2424149A (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-09-13 John Kielty Bell Wireless security system for tracking an individual
WO2007090201A2 (en) * 2006-02-01 2007-08-09 Qualcomm Incorporated Method and apparatus for enhanced privacy while tracking mobile workers
WO2007090201A3 (en) * 2006-02-01 2007-09-27 Qualcomm Inc Method and apparatus for enhanced privacy while tracking mobile workers
US8892116B2 (en) 2006-02-01 2014-11-18 Omnitracs, Llc Method and apparatus for enhanced privacy while tracking mobile workers
WO2007090254A2 (en) * 2006-02-06 2007-08-16 Negy Samara Nehmi TRACKING SYSTEM OF HUMAN BElNGS, ANIMALS OR OBJECTS
WO2007090254A3 (en) * 2006-02-06 2008-12-11 Samara Nehmi Nagy TRACKING SYSTEM OF HUMAN BElNGS, ANIMALS OR OBJECTS
US7898425B2 (en) 2006-02-06 2011-03-01 Samara Nehmi Nagy Tracking system of human beings, animals or objects
AU2006203711A1 (en) * 2006-08-27 2008-03-13 Hutcheson, Gavin James Mr GSM mobile watch phone
EP2091218A1 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-19 Laird Technologies AB System and device for use with separated wireless interface and user interface

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0302099D0 (en) 2003-02-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9111433B2 (en) Security and tracking system
US6510380B1 (en) Security and tracking system
US6889135B2 (en) Security and tracking system
US6606556B2 (en) Security and tracking system
US7460019B2 (en) Personal locator system
US8451131B2 (en) Offender presence warning system
US6961001B1 (en) Perimeter monitoring alarm method and system
US7511627B2 (en) Child locator
US20140323079A1 (en) Personal locator device
US20120086574A1 (en) Tracking and alert apparatus, system and method
US20140206307A1 (en) Indoor/Outdoor Personal Security System
US20080218335A1 (en) Rfid based proximity sensor and alert system for fugitives, sex offenders, missing soldiers and the like
KR101486402B1 (en) Inegration security system using Bluetooth ID tag and GPS, Smart Phone for school zone
US20050285747A1 (en) Biometrically authenticated telecommunications system for probation release monitoring programs and other security-oriented applications
US20140285322A1 (en) Life saving apparatus
US20140191864A1 (en) Offender presence warning system
KR20080101609A (en) System, apparatus and method for keeping a person under surveillance
GB2398687A (en) People tracking
KR101009928B1 (en) Method and system for tracing the position used on the mobile communication network/GPS
Kalbande et al. Implementation of Smart Security Band for Women Safety
KR100971848B1 (en) Security and tracking system
US7061426B1 (en) Embedded electronic security system
RU2259595C1 (en) System for generating alarm messages and determining position
GB2405512A (en) Apparatus For Monitoring The Position Of People And Objects
KR20030022613A (en) System for preventing occurrence of a missing child

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)