# US 12,008,878 B2 · Distributed security system using position tracking > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,008,878 B2 - Document ID: US12008878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/503,458 - Filed: 2021-10-18 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-29 - Applicants: Jerry M. Miniard - Inventors: Jerry M. Miniard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008878B2 ## CPC - G08B 21/0227: {System arrangements with a plurality of child units} - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - G08B 21/0261: {System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden} - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - G08B 13/1965: {the vehicle being an aircraft} - G08B 21/0269: {System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS} - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Systems, methods, and computer program products for securing a device or an asset attached thereto. The positions of a plurality of devices are monitored, and based on the positions, a determination is made as to whether a threshold condition has been violated. If the threshold condition has been violated, a notification signal is transmitted from a monitored device to one or more of the other devices to alert a responder that the monitored device is at risk of being lost. In response to the threshold condition being violated, the monitored device may also record and/or transmit data for display to the responder to help prevent the loss, or facilitate the recovery of the monitored device and/or an asset attached to the monitored device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of determining a location of a first device relative to a second device using one or more of a plurality of communication protocols each having a maximum distance at which the communication protocol can be used to determine the location, comprising: selecting a first communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols; and until at least one of a strength of a signal is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, or each of the plurality of communication protocols has been selected: activating a module that implements the selected communication protocol, determining if the strength of the signal received by the activated module is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol, in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module not being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, selecting another communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols, and in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, determining the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each communication protocol is selected according to a hierarchy in which a most preferred communication protocol has a shortest maximum distance, and a least preferred communication protocol has a longest maximum distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first communication protocol is the most preferred communication protocol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating tracking data using the selected communication protocol; transmitting the tracking data to a server; and determining if a threshold condition has been violated based on the tracking data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: in response to determining the threshold condition has been violated, transmitting an alert notification from the server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the alert notification is transmitted to a drone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to receiving the alert notification, the drone heads to the location of one of the first device or the second device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: transmitting one or more of video data, tracking data, environmental data, device status data, and drone status data from the drone to the server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the drone is a first drone, the drone status data includes power supply data, and further comprising: in response to the power supply data indicating the first drone is running low on power, transmitting the alert notification from the server to a second drone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication protocols includes two or more of a near field communication protocol, a personal area network communication protocol, a local area network communication protocol, a cellular network communication protocol, and a satellite communication protocol. ### Claim 11 A system for determining a location of a first device relative to a second device using one or more of a plurality of communication protocols each having a maximum distance at which the communication protocol can be used to determine the location, comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors and including program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to: select a first communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols; and until at least one of a strength of a signal is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, or each of the plurality of communication protocols has been selected: activate a module that implements the selected communication protocol, determine if the strength of the signal received by the activated module is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol, in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module not being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, select another communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols, and in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, determine the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein each communication protocol is selected according to a hierarchy in which a most preferred communication protocol has a shortest maximum distance, and a least preferred communication protocol has a longest maximum distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the first communication protocol is the most preferred communication protocol. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the program code further causes the system to: generate tracking data using the selected communication protocol; and determine if a threshold condition has been violated based on the tracking data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the program code further causes the system to: in response to determining the threshold condition has been violated, transmit an alert notification. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the alert notification is transmitted to a drone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the alert notification is configured to cause the drone to head to the location of one of the first device or the second device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the program code further causes the system to: receive one or more of video data, tracking data, environmental data, device status data, and drone status data from the drone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the drone is a first drone, the drone status data includes power supply data, and the program code further causes the system to: in response to the power supply data indicating the first drone is running low on power, transmit the alert notification to a second drone. ### Claim 20 A computer program product for determining a location of a first device relative to a second device using one or more of a plurality of communication protocols each having a maximum distance at which the communication protocol can be used to determine the location, comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: select a first communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols; and until at least one of a strength of a signal is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, or each of the plurality of communication protocols has been selected: activate a module that implements the selected communication protocol, determine if the strength of the signal received by the activated module is sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol, in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module not being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, select another communication protocol from the plurality of communication protocols, and in response to the strength of the signal received by the activated module being sufficient to determine the location of the first device relative to the second device, determine the location of the first device relative to the second device using the selected communication protocol.