Abstract:
A tracking system including a transceiver, an attachment system for connecting the transceiver to a wearer, a microprocessor periodically connected in wireless communication with the transceiver, and a database operationally connected to the microprocessor. The transceiver is operationally coupled to a GPS satellite system and generates sets of datapoint pairs, with each respective datapoint pair including a geographic location value and time value corresponding to when the geographic location value was measured. The transceiver from time to time communicates a set of datapoint pairs to the microprocessor for storage in the database, and the attachment system generates an alert signal if disengaged from the wearer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present novel technology relates generally to systems and methods for monitoring, and more particularly, to a system and method for tracking an individual&#39;s compliance with a restricted movement confinement. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is often necessary to track the movements of an individual. For example, when an individual is forced, such as by a court order, physiological deterioration, or the like, into a restricted movement regiment, the individual is permitted limited transitory and non-transitory activities within limited areas and restricted times. The individual is considered in compliance if he stays within the limited areas within the prescribed times. An example of this is when a court grants a probationary release to a prisoner for as long as he obeys a prescribed schedule dictating both locational and time restrictions or his movements. In this example, the probationary released individual may be required to be in his home during the hours of 7 P.M. to 8 A.M., at work during the hours of 9 A.M to 6 P.M., and along a pre-defined route during the time it takes to get to work and back home. Further, some locations may be identified as always off limits. 
         [0003]    Previously, the only means available to available to confirm the individual&#39;s compliance with the restricted times and locations was to receive some sort of signal through a land-line telephone at pre-arranged times. The signal could either be a call from the individual or a communication from a device worn by, or otherwise attached to, the individual. In either case, compliance was essentially defined as being within close proximity to a few known telephones at pre-defined times. 
         [0004]    This system has several critical failures. First, such a system provides no transitory information. Also, the above described system requires the restricted individual to have access to a fixed location land-line telephone. Further, the above described system can only determine whether the sending unit (a device attached to the restricted individual) is within a predetermined number of feet of a base unit or not, and only at predetermined times. Because of the reliance on a land-line telephone, there is no possibility of receiving information about the restricted individual&#39;s course while that individual is moving from one location to another. Similarly, the usage of pre-defined times for the determination of compliance permits noncompliance during other times. Another similar, and much worse, problem is that the prior system provides no means of location a restricted individual who has chosen to ignore his restrictions. 
         [0005]    Other problems, with the prior system include the inability to immediately alert authorities upon the unauthorized removal of the attached device from the restricted individual. Since the prior system requires a land-line fixed telephone through which it (the attached device) communicates at scheduled times to some central location, unauthorized removal of the device cannot be detected during non-scheduled communication times or when outside of the devices range to communicate with the telephone. This permits a “head start” to anyone who might decide to remove the attached device immediately after a check-in and make a run for it. 
         [0006]    The land-line telephone itself also provides for various, easy-to-exploit shortcomings. One such shortcoming is the requirement of all restricted individuals to have residential phone service. Another shortcoming is the ready availability of call forwarding or like means of appearing to place a call from a location where the caller is not. The prior system utilizes the fixed nature of land-line telephones as a means of indicating location, but so long as the specific telephone seems to be responding, the prior system has no real knowledge of noncompliance. Similarly, any means of spoofing the particular telephone (fooling the phone system) will be interpreted as being a legitimate location. 
         [0007]    Finally, previous tracking systems have no notion of providing prior warnings/information organized by particular restriction geography of the city/area in question. Additionally, previous systems provide no room for customization of restricted/permitted areas for the restricted individual. Because of this, there is currently no notion of restricted mobility based upon restriction or any ability to customize the restricted mobility for a particular restricted individual&#39;s unique situation. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, prior tracking systems have failed to address various important limitations of the attached device. These limitations include a short power (charged battery) life and the inability to ensure compliance while/during power source replacement. 
         [0009]    Finally, prior systems largely ignore the format and usefulness of the collected data. The prior systems do not provide for collecting the data into centralized databases, nor do the prior systems provide for color-coding and map display of the data for readability and/or evidence purposes. 
         [0010]    There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus for a highly configurable and customizable mobile system for probation release monitoring programs and other security-oriented applications. The present novel technology addresses this need. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present novel technology relates to a mobile tracking apparatus for probation release monitoring programs and other security-oriented applications, and a method for using the same. The novel technology also helps to enhance productivity of law enforcement and security personnel by reducing the need for officers to personally investigate and verify the movements of persons in restricted confinement situations. According to one aspect of the novel technology, a method of utilizing the informational and locational capabilities of the wearable apparatus is provided. The method typically includes uniquely identifying and locating the wearer based upon information provided by the apparatus. The information from the apparatus is collected, collated and then stored within a database. The frequency with which the information is collected, collated and stored is configurable. Less frequent communication provides prolonged power source life. 
         [0012]    The apparatus itself typically consists of a relatively small, sealed, and tamper-resistant wireless device with a relatively long-lived power source. Without limitation, other suitable configurations, such as multiple small, sealed, and tamper resistant components are possible. Further configurations may include such anti-tamper mechanisms such as explosive cartridges containing blue dye and/or essential oils. Attached to the apparatus is strap or the like for securing the apparatus to the wearer. Through one of any number of means (physical resistance, electrical conductivity, biometrics, and the like), the apparatus can detect when the attaching strap has been compromised. While not existing in the current embodiment, the apparatus could be envisioned to be configured to sense the wearer&#39;s biometric information such as emotional status, heartbeat, blood pressure, and the like through the use of skin electrical resistance, moister content, sound, or the like. The apparatus is typically GPS enabled, more typically with a non-volatile memory with which it temporarily stores sampled information (GPS values, time of GPS sampling, apparatus state, and the like). Additionally, the apparatus typically has some form of identification that is unique to a specific apparatus. The typical implementation has unique identification in the form of a specific phone number. Upon communication, the stored information, along with identification, is uploaded to the afore-mentioned database. 
         [0013]    Interaction between the apparatus and the means of collection, collation and storage is typically not limited to one-way. The apparatus itself can be contacted and ordered to immediately report desired information. Likewise, the apparatus may be ordered to alter various operating parameters. 
         [0014]    Positional components of the wearer&#39;s collected information may then be compared to a customized set of geographic restrictions. The set of restrictions may include time restricted, customized restricted, event restricted, and/or category restricted geographic areas and combinations of the same. Category restricted areas consist of those areas and times which would naturally be restricted based upon some generic classification. For example, the areas of interest within a city would be categorized based upon the particular restriction associated with a particular wearer. For example, schools and parks may be categorized as restricted for pedophiles, while bars, nightclubs, and liquor stores may be restricted for alcoholics. 
         [0015]    The positional information is then time indexed and displayed over an area-of-interest coded map. Violations are coded based upon the nature and/or severity of the violation. Non-violation events of note may also be coded based upon nearness to a violation. Further, this method of visually displaying the information also permits the identification of repeated near-violations. For example, a pedophile&#39;s repeated nearness to, but non-violation, of a school zone would be readily identifiable. This information may then be flagged for communication to the appropriate authorities. Positional information can also be queried and time indexed for other reasons or needs. For example, a listing of all movements of wearers&#39; near a crime location may be generated. 
         [0016]    Access to the chronological and positional information regarding a wearer&#39;s actions along with remote interaction with the device is typically internet enabled. Access is typically secured through a role-based authorization and identification logon system. Information and interaction is typically accessed and displayed through a browser-based interface. Other means of data access may likewise be provided for. Examples of interaction with the device include apparatus initialization, setting apparatus parameters, and initiate immediate response. 
         [0017]    One object of the present novel technology is to provide an improved personal tracking system. Related objects and advantages of the present novel technology will be apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic process diagram of a first embodiment tracking system of the present novel technology. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic process diagram of the functioning of a GPS transceiver for the tracking system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the transceiver portion of the tracking system of  FIG. 1  as worn by a wearer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a process flow of a tracking system  10  according to a first embodiment of the present novel technology. The system  10  typically includes server assembly  11  and remote transceiver assembly  12 . Server assembly typically includes a receiver or transceiver  15 , a database  20  operationally connected to the a communicator  33  for receiving and storing information from the remote transceiver assembly  12 , various applications  25  for interaction with the database  20 , a browser  30  for using the applications  25 , a microprocessor  17  for housing (running) the various applications  25 , the databases  20 , and the browser  30  used for accessing the database  20  or applications  25 . In some configurations, transceiver  15  also assumes the functions of communicator  33 ; in other configurations, receiver  15  is only configured to receive information from the remote transceiver assembly  12 . Without limitation, examples of other equivalent configurations have the transceiver or receiver  15  replaced with a modem or receiver  15 , respectively. 
         [0023]    Remote transceiver assembly  12  typically includes a GPS enabled transceiver  45 , a power source  47  connected to the transceiver  45  and also to a microprocessor  49 , and a memory  51  connected to the microprocessor  49 . Without limitation, it is understood that the GPS enabled transceiver  45  may be a unitary assembly or be a combination of a separate GPS enabled receiver and a separate transmitter and/or other suitable configurations. Transceiver  45 , power source  47 , microprocessor  49  and memory  51  are typically enclosed in a tamper resistant housing  53 . Housing  53  is typically connected to wearer  35  by strap  37 . 
         [0024]    Typically the microprocessor  17  is connected to the communicator  33  for communication with the transceiver  45 . The authorities  40  are charged with monitoring the movements of the wearer  35  of the transceiver  15 . The authorities  40  may be the police, child welfare services, the wearer&#39;s family, doctors, mental health professionals, or the like, depending upon the wearer&#39;s situation. Typically, this monitoring is performed by the authorities  40  though the use of a browser  30  using the applications  25 . In this example, the wearer  35  is a court-restricted individual, such as a convicted pedophile. However, the system  10  may alternately be used to track other wearer&#39;s  35  than released felons; for example, wearers  35  may include the very wealthy, those with diminished capacity and a tendency to wander off, children, the politically important, participants in social interaction experiments, and the like, and even animals or objects. Likewise, the exemplary model of how the system  10  works for tracking a restricted individual wearer  35  should not be taken to be representative as the only possible means of implementation. 
         [0025]    While the example of  FIG. 1  contemplates the transceiver  45  as a GPS enabled device capable of communicating via commercial wireless telephone systems, the transceiver  45  may be any convenient form of wireless communication. Additionally, while the example also contemplates an Internet web site through which access to the server assembly  11 , and thus the remote transceiver assembly  12 , is gained, the present novel technology also fully encompasses other means of communication, such as via a private network, an externally accessible intranet, other wireless and non-wireless telecommunications, or the like. 
         [0026]    The system  10  provider acquires a GPS map of the area in question. The map is typically annotated with information about the various locations it contains; these annotations may be preloaded, or added by the system provider. For example, the set of locations within a school or school zone are noted as such. The set of GPS coordinates of the locations are then placed into various categories based upon their annotating values. For example, school zones may be categorized as off limits to pedophiles and/or drug offenders. The GPS locations and their respective annotation are then added to a database. 
         [0027]    An individual of interest is selected or qualified for restricted movement and tracking, and thus becomes defined as the wearer  35 . The wearer  35  information, including those categories identified as “prohibited” or “off limits”, is then entered into the database  20 . The wearer&#39;s  35  special and/or customized restrictions and requirements are also entered into the database  20 . Other information, such as regarding the identification of the relevant authorities  40 , the various reports, alerts, apparatus state, and other desired to be automatically generated may also be entered at this time. Alternatively, such information may also be derived from previously set system defaults. An association between one of the tracking transceivers  15  and the so-identified restricted individual  35  is then formed. 
         [0028]    The remote transceiver assembly  45  is then typically powered up, initialized with the various pertinent parameters (frequency of reporting and the like), firmly attached to the wearer  35 , and typically tested for proper functioning. Note that there is no need for the various initialization activities to occur in any special location. Because the interface to interact with the system  10 , and, ultimately the remote transceiver assembly  45  is through an (typically Internet enabled) application  35 , the various initialization activities performed on the remote transceiver assembly  45  can be performed anywhere where there is communication means  33  access. For example, the remote transceiver assembly  45  could be initialized, tested and, attached to the wearer  35  at his home instead of at a police office. After initialization, the remote transceiver assembly  45  periodically wirelessly communicates with the database  20  to allow for transfer of data thereto regarding locations and remote transceiver assembly  45  state (i.e., verification that the remote transceiver assembly  45  is still functioning and properly connected to the wearer  35 ). 
         [0029]    At prescheduled time, remote transceiver assembly  45  will require its power source  47  to be replenished. Alternatively, the remote transceiver assembly  45  may transmit a “low power” signal indicative of the need to have its power source  47  replenished. To do so, the wearer  35  may be required to report to a pre-determined location. Typically, a servicing individual would log into the system  10  and inform the system  10  that he will be performing service upon the specified remote transceiver assembly  45 . The remote transceiver assembly  45  typically wirelessly communicates the information it has gathered since its last automatic notification to the database  20 . The servicing individual is then typically granted a limited time in which to service the remote transceiver assembly  45 . The system  10  typically reports a system-wide alert and notification should the designated remote transceiver assembly  45  not be initialized and report back before the expiration of the limited time period. A similar system-wide alert and notification might typically occur when the remote transceiver assembly  45  is violated. In this case, the only difference is that the remote transceiver assembly  45  continuously communicates its GPS and status information. 
         [0030]    Users of the system  10  will be able to log in and visually inspect the movements of wearer  35 . Additionally, users of the system  10  may also receive regularly scheduled emails, reports, and/or the like concerning the movements of wearer  35 . This likewise may be accomplished over the Internet or like communication system  33  using a browser  30 . The wearer&#39;s  35  movements may be color coded and displayed on an output, such as a map. Various elements of the map, based upon their categorization, may also be color coded for display on the map. The color coding can be used to denote various pieces of information. Examples of color coding may include coloring a restricted individual&#39;s movements in red when such movements are in violation of his restrictions, yellow when he is near to violating his restrictions, and green when he is within his authorized movement parameters. Alternatively, the information may be organized and presented in any convenient format. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an idealized process or state flow chart of the system functions. The default state of the remote transceiver assembly  45  is its sleep state ( 100 ), a low power consumption state usually exited  105  through prompting by a timer at regular intervals or predetermined times. Other exit conditions may include detected tampering  110  with the transceiver  15  or receiving an alarm signal  115 . The result of either being to enter into a state  155  that continuously samples GPS, assigns a time value to each respective sampled GPS value, and transmits the GPS/time value pairs. When exited under the usual conditions (timer event), the device  12  samples GPS and status information  120 , stores that information  125 , and transmits stored information  130  if it is also time to do so. The other exit conditions  110  may lead to the device continuously transmitting its GPS and status information, if it is so programmed. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a perspective view of wireless and GPS enabled remote transceiver assembly  45  as worn by wearer  35 , according to a first embodiment of the present novel technology. Although the GPS enabled remote transceiver assembly  45  is depicted herein as one self contained unit, it is understood that the GPS remote transceiver assembly  45  could be composed of a separate GPS unit and a transceiver assembly or any other suitable configuration. In this depiction, the remote transceiver assembly  45  is attached to a strap  37  by which the remote transceiver assembly  45  is attached to the wearer  35 . 
         [0033]    The example of  FIG. 3  contemplates a strap, band, bracelet, or the like as the attachment means  37  for connecting the remote transceiver assembly  45  to the wearer  35 . The remote transceiver assembly  45  may also be fixed to the wearer  35  via other means. Other possible examples of means by which the remote transceiver assembly  45  may be fixed to the wearer  35  include oral placement (swallowing), surgical placement, riveting (piercing/stapling), and the like. 
         [0034]    The remote transceiver assembly  45 , its strap or like means of securing itself to the wearer  37 , and the integrity of the remote transceiver assembly&#39;s  45  ultimate union to the wearer  35  via strap  37  are all typically tamper resistant. The remote transceiver assembly  45  is typically able to sense when it, the strap  37  and/or the ultimate union of the remote transceiver assembly  45  to the wearer  35  has been tampered with, such as through a change in electrical resistance or the like. 
         [0035]    In operation, the functioning of the system  10  can be described as consisting of a plurality of non-mutually exclusive phases  220  that may be potentially active during the functioning of the system  10 . The phases  220  are authority setup  225 , map information  230 , individual information  235 , configuration  240 , tracking  245 , review  250 , and servicing  255 . The authority setup  225  phase is characterized by the creation of logins for and training of authority  40  (observers) of the system  10 . 
         [0036]    The map information phase  230  is characterized by either the database  20  already being populated with or the populating of the database  20  with the GPS map of the area in question. Typically, additional information is supplied to the database  20 , annotating the various locations the map contains. Annotations may occur at any time and even be ongoing. They may also be preloaded or added by the system provider. Continuing the previous example of the set of locations within a school zone being noted as such, further annotation could include school building, school playground, and park next to a school (for a park location next to a school). 
         [0037]    Associations between the GPS coordinates of the locations and categorization values are then formed within the database  20 . Categorization values may either be preloaded or added by the system provider. Categorization values are based upon location annotating values. As previously stated, school zones could be categorized as off limits to pedophiles and/or drug offenders. A product of the map information phase is typically the population of the database  20  with a map of the area in question with its GPS coordinates annotated with location information and the coordinates being categorized based upon those annotating values. 
         [0038]    Finally, the map information  230  phase is typically considered to be continuing. This is because some portion of the authorities  40 , through the use of a browser  30  to make use of applications  25 , may be able to add to the information contained within the database  20 . 
         [0039]    The individual information  235  phase is characterized by the population of the database  20  with the pertinent information of the wearer  35 . As previously stated, the information includes “prohibited” or “off limits” categories. Additional information includes the wearer&#39;s  35  special and/or customized restrictions and requirements and to what authorities  40  the various reports, alerts, apparatus state, and other automatically generated information are sent to. At this time, an association between one of the tracking remote transceiver assemblies  45  and the so-identified wearer  35  is formed within the database  20 . Similar to the map information  230  phase, this phase is also typically accomplished through the use of a browser  30  to make use of applications  25 , running on microprocessor  17 , adding to the information within the database  20 . 
         [0040]    The configuration  240  phase is characterized by the initialization and activation of the remote transceiver assembly  45 . An authority  40 , using an application  25  via a browser  30 , optionally configures (initializes) the remote transceiver assembly  45  with custom parameters. An example of a custom parameter includes the frequency that the remote transceiver assembly  45  will transmit information. The remote transceiver assembly  45  is fixed to the wearer  35 , in this example via a strap  7 . An authority  40 , typically using an application  25 , then activates the transceiver  15 . 
         [0041]    In the tracking phase  245 , the remote transceiver assembly  45  is typically in a sleep state  100 , a low energy consumption state. Periodically (based upon a parameter optionally configured in the configuration phase) the remote transceiver assembly  45  will wake up from the sleep state  100 , sample the GPS coordinates and state (conditions  120 ) of the remote transceiver assembly  45 . The remote transceiver assembly  45  will then either store  175  the sampled information or transmit  130  all the stored information it has acquired since the last transmission. During transmission, the remote transceiver assembly  45  will wirelessly transmit the information to the system  10  via the communicator  33 . Additionally and without limitation, while the communicator  33  is depicted as receiving the wirelessly transmitted information, it is to be understood that other suitable configurations are possible. For example, the communicator  33  could possibly include wired, fiber optic, and other non-wireless telecommunication technologies. 
         [0042]    The periodicity of the transmission is another parameter optionally configured during the configuration phase  240 . Alternatively, the remote transceiver assembly  45  may be woken from the sleep state by either a received command transmitted by the system  10  through the communicator  33  or through the detection tampering with the remote transceiver assembly  45  or with the strap  37 . In either case, the transceiver  15  immediately samples and transmits the GPS coordinates  120  and may go into a constant transmission state where it continuously samples the GPS coordinates  120  and state information and transmits  125  them to the system  10 . The periodicity of transmission is also observed by the system  10 . In one configuration, should the system  10  fail to receive the remote transceiver assembly&#39;s  45  transmission  130  all the stored information it has acquired since its last transmission at the expected time, the system  10  will go into an alert stage where it will notify the authorities  40 . The system  10  may also be configured to frequently attempt to command the remote transceiver assembly  45  through the communicator  33  to enter into a constant transmission state where it continuously samples the GPS coordinates  120  and state information and transmits  125  them to the system  10 . The review  250  phase consists of two separate components. The first of which is the visual representation of the wearer&#39;s  35  movements over a window of time. An authority  40 , using a browser  30  accesses an application  25  that depicts the wearer&#39;s  35  movements within a chosen time period over a map of the area. Without limitation, it is understood that the means of depiction of the wearer&#39;s  35  movements may take other forms. For example, a printed representation of the GPS map with the wearer&#39;s  35  movements could be used instead of a browser based visual representation. Typically, elements of the map and the tracked movements of the wearer  35  are color coded denoting additional information. 
         [0043]    Another component is the reports, emails, and notices the system  10  conveys to the authorities  40 . The reports, emails, and notices contain, among other information, listings of wearer  35  violations of his restrictions. 
         [0044]    Additionally, there is the servicing  255  phase. It is during the servicing  255  phase where an authority  40  using a browser  30  accesses an application  25  to inform the system  10  of the need to service the remote transceiver assembly  45 . The system  10  then accepts a limited time duration during which no transmissions are expected from the remote transceiver assembly  45 . It is during this time that adjustments to the attachment of the remote transceiver assembly  45  to the wearer  35  can be made as well as any servicing to the remote transceiver assembly&#39;s  45  power source  47 . 
         [0045]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.