Asset recovery system
AssigneeLoJack Operating Company, LP
InventorsClaude Arpin, William R. Duvall, Joseph T. Lipowski, Arvind K. Ramadorai, Thomas A. Wooters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An asset location, tracking, and recovery system and method includes a network of VHF towers and a control center receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the VHF towers. Primary locating units each include a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder activated when a signal is transmitted by the control center via the VHF towers to the receiver. Auxiliary locating units include at least a transmitter emitting a signal received by at least one primary locating unit receiver which relays that signal to the control center via the VHF towers from the primary locating unit transmitter.
Claims29
An asset location, tracking, and recovery system comprising:
- a network of VHF towers;
- a control center receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the VHF towers;
- a locating unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder activated when a signal is transmitted by the control center via the VHF towers to the receiver;
- and
- at least one auxiliary locating unit including at least a transmitter emitting a signal received by the locating unit receiver and relayed to the control center via the VHF towers from the locating unit transmitter.
An asset recovery system comprising:
- a communications network;
- a control center receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the communications network;
- a primary locating unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder activated when a signal is transmitted by the control center via the communications network to the receiver;
- and
- an auxiliary locating unit including a transmitter emitting a signal received by the primary locating unit receiver and relayed to the control center via the communications network by the primary locating unit transmitter.
An asset recovery method comprising:
- hiding a locating unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder in an asset;
- communicating with the locating unit receiver to activate the transponder;
- associating an auxiliary locating unit including at least a transmitter with the same asset, with a different asset, or with an object or person;
- and
- upon receiving an auxiliary locating unit transmitter signal via the receiver of the locating unit, relaying information regarding said signal to a control center.
A recovery method comprising:
- installing a primary locating unit including a transmitter, a receiver, and a transponder with a position determination subsystem for determining the position of the primary locating unit;
- associating with an asset, an object, or a person an auxiliary locating unit including at least a transmitter emitting a signal;
- and
- upon the primary locating unit receiving the signal emitted by the auxiliary locating unit, activating the transmitter of the primary locating unit to transmit a message indicating a detection of the auxiliary locating unit and the position of the primary locating unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.