Patent ID: 8604925

Claim:
An asset locator system comprising: i) a short range hand-held electrical signaling device transmitting an identifier signal, and ii) an asset locator device, the asset locator device further comprising: a) a wireless receiver capable of receiving an identifier signal transmitted from the hand held signaling device; b) a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a message to a space based communication network; c) a GNSS receiver capable of determining the location of the locator device; d) an event sensor detecting an event indicating use or imminent use of an asset with which the asset locator is associated; and e) a controller configured to instruct the asset locator to: i) attempt to detect the identifier signal from the signaling device if the event sensor indicates a positive condition; ii) transmit a signal, including an asset location, to the space based network if: 1) the identifier signal is not detected; and 2) location fixes from the positioning system indicate a location change of the asset.