System and method for monitoring the location of individuals via the world wide web using a wireless communications network

A monitoring system for providing the geographical location of certain individuals within a geographical region to authorized users at a remote location, comprising:

• a) a plurality of wireless communications devices for transmitting control signals in response to receiving paging signals, wherein each wireless communications device is associated with an individual to be monitored, and wherein the paging signals are operable to preclude the wireless communications devices from alerting the individual of the paging signal and yet respond with controls signals;
• b) a plurality of receivers located across a geographical regions for detecting controls signals transmitted by the wireless communications devices;
• c) a location processor for determining location information corresponding to at least one wireless communications device according to signal strength information provided in the control signals, detected by the plurality of receivers;
• and
• d) an Internet-accessible database for storing location information and associating a user access code with each wireless communications device, wherein authorized users receive location information pertaining to each wireless communications device associated with the respective user access code;
• wherein the location processor includes a geographical location database that:
• 1) maintains location information for each wireless communication device sorted by authorized user access code and an authorized user can simultaneously receive location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same user access code;
• and
• 2) maintains names of items-of-interest associated with addresses at which the wireless communication devices are located.

A method for monitoring a geographical location of individuals within a geographical region from a remote location, comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving control signals from wireless communication devices associated with individuals to be monitored in response to paging signals, wherein the control signals are transmitted over a wireless network, and wherein the paging signal is operable to preclude the wireless communications devices from alerting the individuals of the paging signal and yet respond with controls signals:
• b) processing the control signals in a location processor to determine geocoded coordinates representing locations of individuals to be monitored, the processing including evaluating a signal strength information provided in the control signals;
• c) providing the locations of individuals to be monitored to an Internet server according to respective geocoded coordinates;
• and
• d) providing authorized users access to the Internet server through a website to monitor the geographical locations of individuals;
• wherein the location processor includes a geographical location database that:
• 1) maintains location information for each wireless communication device sorted by authorized user access code and an authorized user can simultaneously receive location information for a plurality of wireless communication devices associated with the same user access code;
• and
• 2) maintains names of items-of-interest associated with addresses at which the wireless communication devices are located.