Patent ID: 6882274

Claim:
A tracking tag for receiving a radio frequency location data signal from an orbiting global positioning satellite and for communicating with a tracking system, the tag being electrically engagable with an external power supply and a battery power supply, the tag comprising: a) a receiver having an antenna for receiving the location data signal from the global positioning satellite; b) a customer ID module for generating a unique tag identification signal; c) a transponder having an antenna for receiving radio frequency command signals from the tracking system; d) a power circuit for electrically engaging the battery power supply and the external power supply; e) a programmable microprocessor in electrical communication with the power circuit, receiver, customer ID module, and transponder, the microprocessor being operative to receive the location data signal, the identification signal, the command signals, and to produce a composite output signal representative of tag identification and location, the transponder being further operative to transmit the composite output signal by radio carrier wave to the tracking system.