Tracking and theft-recovery system for mobile assets

A system for tracking objects using a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device including a memory, long and short range communications modules, a location determination module, and a processor, the system including:

• a plurality of tracking devices each attached to an object to be tracked and including a short range communications module;
• a server;
• mobile device software configured for the mobile communications device, the mobile device software configured to be executed upon the processor to:
• store in the memory an identification of the mobile device;
• access the long range communication module for communication over a cellular communication network;
• access the short range communications module for receiving short range signals transmitted from tracking devices, the received signal including at least an identification of the tracking device;
• access the location determination module to determine the location of the mobile communication device;
• on receipt of a short range distress signal from a tracking device, obtaining a location from the location module;
• and
• transmit a signal to the server via the long range communication module, the signal including at least the identification of the tracking device, a time of receipt of the short range signal from the tracking device and the determined location of the tracking device when the short range signal was received;
• server software executable by the server to:
• receive an authentication request from a mobile communications device, the authentication request including an identification of a tracking device and an identification of the mobile communications device from which the request is received;
• access the memory to determine if the mobile communications device from which the authentication request is received is an authorized mobile communications device for the tracking device;
• and
• if the mobile communications device is an authorized device, then transmitting an authentication message back to the mobile communications device via the long range communication modules;
• wherein upon receipt of an authentication message, the mobile device software causes the mobile device to transmit a cancel message via the short range communication modules to the tracking device to thereby stop the tracking device from transmitting distress messages.