Patent ID: 7218227

Claim:
An apparatus ( 10 , 26 ) for tracking a movable asset ( 16 ) and providing tracking information to a monitoring device ( 22 ), including: a tracker tag ( 12 ) adapted to selectively receive position and time data from multiple global positioning system satellites ( 240 ) of a global positioning system satellite constellation ( 24 ), the position data representing a position of each global positioning system satellite from which data was received with respect to center of Earth ( 37 ) and the time data representing a time of day associated with the position data, the tracker tag disposed along an exterior of the movable asset at a location facilitating reception of the position and time data, the tracker tag combining the position and time data from the multiple global positioning system satellites for selectively transmitting combined position and time data via a data communication network ( 18 ), wherein the tracker tag is adapted to receive command and control information via the data communication network, wherein the tracker tag is electrically isolated from the asset and inoperative from equipment associated with the asset; and a tracking information server ( 14 ) for command and control of the tracker tag, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively transmit command and control information to the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to receive combined position and time data from the tracker tag via the data communication network, wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively receive command and control information from the monitoring device via a tracking information network ( 20 ), wherein the tracking information server is adapted to selectively process the combined position and time data based on preprogrammed instructions and command and control information to produce the tracking information, wherein the tracking information is associated with the asset and selectively accessible to the monitoring device via the tracking information network.