Automatic GPS tracking system with passive or active battery circuitry

A portable battery powered personnel GPS tracking unit having a tamper detection circuitry and securely attached to a personnel comprising:

• an RF transceiver configured to receive one or more confirmation signals from a home base station unit;
• a processor configured to determine if said one or more confirmation signals from said home base station unit are received within a predefined time period;
• a first battery configured to power said RF transceiver and said processor,
• a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of said asset or personnel;
• a cellular or a satellite transceiver configured to transmit said location of said asset or personnel to a monitoring station;
• a wireless audio transceiver configured to establish two way voice communication between said monitoring station and said personnel;
• a second battery configured to power said GPS receiver, said cellular or satellite transceiver, and said wireless audio transceiver;
• and
• power switching circuitry configured to control a flow of power from the second battery to the GPS receiver and the cellular or satellite transceiver, wherein said power switching circuitry transfers power from the second battery to the GPS receiver, cellular or satellite transceiver, and wireless audio transceiver if said processor does not receive said one or more confirmation signals within said predefined time period.

A method for tracking an asset or personnel using a GPS tracking system comprising:

• transmitting a first confirmation signal from a home base station unit, said confirmation signal having a limited range;
• receiving said first confirmation signal from said home base station at a portable GPS tracking unit;
• generating a first alert with an alerting device of said portable GPS tracking unit if said first confirmation signal is not received by said portable GPS tracking unit within a first predefined time period, wherein said first alert indicates said asset or personnel is beyond said limited range;
• activating a second battery to power a GPS receiver and a cellular or satellite transceiver of said portable GPS tracking unit if a second confirmation signal from said home base station unit is not received within a second predefined period of time after said first alert;
• detecting a location of the asset or personnel with the GPS receiver;
• and
• transmitting said location to a monitoring station with the cellular or satellite transceiver.

A portable battery operated asset or personnel GPS tracking system comprising:

• a home base station unit configured to transmit a confirmation signal, said confirmation signal having a limited range;
• a GPS tracking unit having a tamper detection circuitry, said GPS tracking unit securely attached to an asset or a personnel;
• an RF receiver configured to receive said confirmation signal from said home base station unit;
• a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of said GPS tracking unit;
• a cellular or satellite transceiver configured to transmit said GPS tracking unit location to a monitoring station;
• a processor coupled to an alerting device, said processor configured to activate said alerting device a first time to indicate said GPS tracking unit is beyond said limited range of said home base station unit when said confirmation signal is not received from said home base station unit;
• a rechargeable battery to provide power to said tracking device electronic circuitry, and a rechargeable back up battery used as power supply when said rechargeable battery is removed for charging, said GPS tracking device including electronic circuitry for said rechargeable battery to charge said rechargeable back up battery;
• and
• power switching circuitry configured at a predetermined time to transfer power from said rechargeable battery or rechargeable back up battery to said GPS receiver and cellular or satellite transceiver if said confirmation signal is not received after said alerting device is activated said first time.

A portable battery powered personnel GPS tracking unit having RF audio transceiver, a tamper detection circuitry and it is securely attached to a personnel to ascertain said personnel carrying said tracking unit, said tracking unit in response to at least one received incoming call from a monitoring station establishes two way voice communication between said personnel and said monitoring station, and provide said personnel location information to said monitoring station, said system comprising:

• a battery configured to power said GPS tracking unit electronic circuitry,
• a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of said personnel;
• a cellular or a satellite RF transceiver configured to establish to way voice communication and configured to transmit said personnel location information to a monitoring station;
• and
• a wireless personnel headset,
• said wireless audio transceiver configured to communicate with said wireless headset to establish a private two way voice communication between said personnel and a monitoring station via said tracking device cellular or satellite transceiver.

A portable battery operated asset or personnel GPS tracking system comprising:

• a home base station unit configured to communicate with a GPS tracking unit with confirmation signal, said confirmation signal having a limited range;
• a motion detector used for tamper or movement detection of said home base station unit,
• a GPS tracking unit having a tamper detection circuitry, said GPS tracking unit securely attached to an asset or a personnel;
• an RF receiver or a transceiver configured to receive said confirmation signal from said home base station unit;
• a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of said GPS tracking unit;
• a cellular or satellite transceiver configured to transmit said GPS tracking unit location to a monitoring station;
• a processor is used to control the operation of said tracking device,
• a battery to provide power to said tracking device electronic circuitry;
• said home base station motion detector in response to detecting motion detection, transmits an RF alarm signal to a monitoring station via said GPS tracking unit cellular or satellite transceiver containing information to said home base station unit, to alert the monitoring personnel said home base unit is been tampered or moved from it's defined location.