Wireless tag and auxiliary device for use with home monitoring unit for tracking individuals or objects

A location tracking system comprising:

• a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device,
• an auxiliary device having an ID and second short range wireless circuitry that communicates this ID to the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location, wherein the location tracking device has multiple first and second operational modes and switches between these operational modes, and wherein the decision to switch operational modes is at least partially based on the auxiliary device ID;
• wherein when in the first operating mode, the monitoring device over time stores and accumulates in the memory multiple instances of the generated location data from the location circuitry, but does not transmit either a current location of the one-piece monitoring device or any stored location in the memory;
• wherein when in the second operating mode:
• the one-piece monitoring device initially determines its location, becomes wirelessly tethered to the auxiliary mode, and subsequently reduces the operations of the location circuitry;
• and
• the combination of the initially determined location and the tethered status of the monitoring device to the auxiliary device replace location determinations for at least portions of the second operating mode;
• wherein in association with the one-piece monitoring device transitioning from the first operating mode to the second operating mode:
• the monitoring device batch transmits from the memory to the auxiliary device via at least the first and second short range wireless communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data and
• the interface transfers to the remote location through the third communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data as received by the second wireless communication circuitry.

A location tracking method comprising:

• providing a tracking device having position determining circuitry and first short range wireless circuitry for communicating position data representative of the location of the device,
• providing an auxiliary device having an ID along with second short range wireless circuitry that communicates the ID to the tracking device and long range communications circuitry that communicates the position data to a remote location,
• wherein the tracking device has first and second operational modes and switches between such modes, and wherein the decision to switch operational modes is at least partially based on the auxiliary device ID;
• wherein when in the first operating mode, the monitoring device over time stores and accumulates in the memory multiple instances of the generated location data from the location circuitry, but does not transmit either a current location of the one-piece monitoring device or any stored location in the memory;
• wherein when in the second operating mode:
• the one-piece monitoring device initially determines its location, becomes wirelessly tethered to the auxiliary mode, and subsequently reduces the operations of the location circuitry;
• and
• the combination of the initially determined location and the tethered status of the monitoring device to the auxiliary device replace location determinations for at least portions of the second operating mode;
• wherein in association with the one-piece monitoring device transitioning from the first operating mode to the second operating mode:
• the monitoring device batch transmits from the memory to the auxiliary device via at least the first and second short range wireless communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data;
• and
• the interface transfers to the remote location through the third communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data as received by the second wireless communication circuitry.

A tracking system, comprising:

• a one-piece monitoring device configured to be supported entirely about the limb of a user, comprising:
• location circuitry that determines location data, including the location of the monitoring device;
• a memory that stores the location data from the temporal location circuitry;
• first short range wireless communications circuitry;
• a auxiliary device, comprising:
• second short range wireless communications circuitry that communicates with the first short range wireless communications circuitry when in range;
• and
• third long range communications circuitry that communicates with a remote location;
• the one-piece monitoring device having first and second operating modes, wherein:
• the first operating mode is during times when the monitoring device is not in communication with the auxiliary device;
• and
• the second operating mode is during times when the monitoring device is in communication with the auxiliary device through at least the first and second wireless communication circuitry;
• wherein when in the first operating mode, the one-piece monitoring device over time stores and accumulates in the memory multiple instances of the generated location data from the location circuitry, but does not transmit either a current location of the one-piece monitoring device or any stored location in the memory;
• wherein when in the second operating mode:
• the one-piece monitoring device initially determines its location, becomes wirelessly tethered to the auxiliary mode, and subsequently reduces the operations of the location circuitry;
• and
• the combination of the initially determined location and the tethered status of the monitoring device to the auxiliary device replace location determinations for at least portions of the second operating mode;
• wherein in association with the one-piece monitoring device transitioning from the first operating mode to the second operating mode:
• the monitoring device batch transmits from the memory to the auxiliary device via at least the first and second short range wireless communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data;
• and
• the interface transfers to the remote location through the third communication circuitry the accumulated multiple instances of the generated location data as received by the second wireless communication circuitry.