Self-contained selectively activated mobile object position reporting device with reduced power consumption and minimized wireless service fees.

A method of operating a mobile object locating system, comprising operations of:

• making arrangements for wireless communications service for multiple wireless telephone transceivers such that each has a nonconforming, transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);
• making arrangements for receive-only tone-only paging service for multiple paging receivers such that each has a unique capcode;
• distributing multiple remote tracking devices for use by customers, each remote tracking device including one of the paging receivers, one of the wireless telephone transceivers, a global positioning system (GPS) unit, and at least one controller;
• assigning each remote tracking device to a mobile object and configuring a database cross-referencing different destination information for each remote tracking device with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;
• responsive to receiving each request from a requesting source to locate a specified mobile object, performing operations comprising:
• accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;
• using the determined destination information to transmit an activation signal to paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object.

A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

• a one-way tone-only paging receiver having a unique capcode;
• a wireless telephone transceiver having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);
• a position locating device;
• at least one controller coupled to the receiver, transceiver and position locating device, configured to perform operations comprising:
• responsive to the paging receiver receiving an activation signal, activating the position locating device to take a position reading;
• activating the transceiver to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

• a case defining a compartment therein;
• positioned inside the compartment, components comprising:
• a one-way tone-only paging receiver having a unique capcode and being coupled to a first antenna;
• a wireless telephone transceiver having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN) and being coupled to a second antenna;
• a global positioning system (GPS) unit coupled to a third antenna;
• at least one controller configured to perform operations comprising:
• responsive to the paging receiver receiving an activation signal, activating the GPS unit to take a position reading;
• activating the transceiver to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

A remote tracking and reporting apparatus, comprising:

• pager means for receiving activation signals targeted at a unique capcode and issuing at least one tone only pager output;
• wireless telephone transceiver means for transmitting and receiving wireless data, said transceiver means having a nonconforming transmit-only mobile identification number (MIN);
• locating means for ascertaining position;
• controller means for managing the pager means, transceiver means, and locating means by:
• responsive to the pager means receiving an activation signal, activating the locating means to take a position reading;
• activating the transceiver means to transmit a representation of the position reading to a predetermined remote site.

A tracking coordination facility for use in locating remote tracking devices each including a one-way tone-only paging receiver, wireless telephone transceiver, self-locating apparatus, and circuitry responsive to receipt of a activation signal by the paging receiver to transmit a location report via the transceiver, the tracking coordination facility comprising:

• a database cross-referencing different destination information for each of multiple remote tracking devices with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;
• a customer Interface utility including one or more of the following:
• Internet web server, telephone voice line, telephonic interactive voice response system, facsimile machine, operator interface;
• a tracking coordination facility manager programmed to perform operations comprising:
• receiving requests from a requesting source via the customer interface utility to locate a specified mobile object;
• responsive to each request, performing operations comprising accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object, and utilizing the destination information to issue an activation signal to the paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object.

An automated tracking coordination facility:

• a database cross-referencing different destination information for each of multiple remote tracking devices with a corresponding code identifying the mobile object assigned to that mobile tracking device;
• a customer interface utility;
• a digital data processing machine coupled to the database and the customer interface utility, and programmed to perform operations comprising:
• receiving requests from a requesting source via the customer interface utility to locate a specified mobile object;
• responsive to each request, automatically performing operations comprising:
• accessing the database to determine destination information for the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;
• utilizing the destination information to issue an activation signal to the paging receiver of the remote tracking device assigned to the specified mobile object;
• receiving a location report from the assigned remote tracking device;
• via the customer interface utility, issuing an output representative of the location report.