Patent ID: 7102565

Claim:
An asset tracking unit, comprising: a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver configured to selectively receive GPS signals from GPS satellites; and a controller coupled to the GPS receiver and programmed to: activate the GPS receiver in response to a predetermined occurrence; determine whether the GPS receiver has received within a first predetermined attempt period of time a set of GPS signals adequate to determine a location of the asset tracking unit; if the controller determines that the GPS receiver did not receive the set of the GPS signals within the first predetermined attempt period of time, deactivate the GPS receiver for a first delay period of time; activate the GPS receiver upon completion of the first delay period of time; determine whether the GPS receiver has received within a second predetermined attempt period of time, immediately following the first delay period of time, a set of GPS signals adequate to determine the location of the asset tracking unit; if the controller determines that the GPS receiver did not receive the set of GPS signals within the second predetermined attempt period of time, deactivate the GPS receiver for a second delay period of time that is longer than the first delay period of time; and activate the GPS receiver upon completion of the second delay period of time.