Patent ID: 7961092

Claim:
A location tracking device for use with an auxiliary device having an ID, the tracking device comprising: position determining circuitry and first wireless circuitry that communicates position data representative of the location of the tracking device to a remote location, second wireless circuitry that communicates with the auxiliary device and receives the auxiliary device identifying information, and wherein the tracking device has at least two operational modes and wherein the tracking device switches operational modes and the decision to switch operational modes, when communication is established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device, is at least partially based on the auxiliary device ID; wherein the tracking device has a first operational mode of the at least two operational modes in response to the absence of communication with the auxiliary device, wherein the position determining circuitry is maintained in a normal power state; wherein the tracking device has a second operational mode of the at least two operations modes in response to communication being established between the tracking device and the auxiliary device such that the tracking device receives the auxiliary device ID, wherein the position determining circuitry is placed in a reduced power state; wherein any communication between the auxiliary device and the remote location is routed through at least the tracking device.