System and method for locating objects including an inhibiting feature

A system for tracking an identifiable moving object travelling a path on earth comprising:

• (a) a receiver supported by said object capable of receiving signals from global positioning system satellites;
• (b) a computer coupled to the receiver, supported by said object, and programmed to calculate the location of the object from signals received by the receiver from a plurality of the GPS satellites and to generate on an output location-indicating signals;
• (c) a comparator coupled of the receiver and the computer so as to activate the computer when the receiver receives a remotely generated inquiry signal containing an identification of the object;
• (d) a transmitter supported by the object and coupled to the output of the computer;
• (e) a monitor station including a central receiver suited to receive the location signals and an electronic display coupled to the central receiver and capable of indicating the location of said object;
• and
• (f) an input device coupled to the comparator, wherein a valid blocking personal identification number entered on the input device blocks the transmission of the location signals for a time.

A method for locating an identifiable one of a plurality of objects in motion comprising:

• (a) carrying with each of a plurality of objects an electronic global positioning circuit, a transceiver, and an identifying code matcher;
• (b) when it is desired to locate said identifiable object, broadcasting from a central location to the transceivers an activation signal including an identification code indicative of the object;
• (c) determining the identifiable object by using the code marchers to attempt to match the broadcasted identification code;
• (d) causing the transceiver of the object whose code marcher matches the identification code to transmit to the central location signals representative of the matching object's location, as determined by the matching object's global positioning circuit;
• (e) receiving said location signals with a receiver at the central location;
• and
• (f) employing said location signals to intelligibly indicate at the central location information including a description of said object and its location;
• (g) wherein the transmission of the location signals from the object is inhibited for a time by entering an inhibiting personal identification number at the object.

A method for locating one of a plurality of identifiable, moveable objects on the surface of the earth comprising:

• (a) receiving location-indicating information signals from a plurality of earth satellites at a portable receiver coupled to a moveable object;
• (b) calculating the location of said object using said location-indicating signals:
• (c) transmitting a remotely generated inquiry signal particularly identifying the object and containing an activating personal identification number:
• (d) when the receiver object receives the inquiry signal and a valid activating personal identification number identification number that is identical to another activating personal identification number entered at the object, transmitting from said receiver to a monitor station signals indicating the calculated location of the object;
• and
• (e) employing said transmitted signals to intelligibly indicate at the monitor station the location of said object.

A system for tracking an identifiable moving object travelling a path on earth comprising:

• (a) a receiver supported by said object capable of receiving signals from global positioning system satellites;
• (b) a computer coupled to the receiver, supported by said object, and programmed to calculate the location of the object from signals received by the receiver from a plurality of the GPS satellites and to generate on an output location-indicating signals;
• (c) a transmitter supported by the object and coupled to the output of the computer;
• (d) an input device supported by the object;
• (e) a comparator coupled to the receiver, the input device, and the computer and wherein the computer is structured to cause the transmitter to transmit the location signals only when an activating personal identification number is entered on the input device matching at least a portion of a remotely generated inquiry signal containing an identification of the object received by the receiver;
• and
• (f) a monitor station including a central receiver suited to receive the location signals, and an electronic display coupled to the central receiver and capable of indicating the location of said object.