System and method for monitoring the location of a mobile network unit

A method of monitoring the location of a mobile network unit in a system comprising a localised wireless communication network having a control unit, a plurality of fixed network units and at least one mobile network unit, the mobile network unit having a transmitter to transmit an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit, the fixed network units each having a transceiver to receive the identification signal directly from a mobile network unit within a predetermined radius of the fixed network unit and indirectly from another fixed network unit, and transmit the identification signal and a signal strength data to the control unit through the wireless communication network, the fixed network units having a sensor to measure the strength of the identification signal received directly from the mobile network unit and output the measured strength as the signal strength data, the control unit having a processor and accessible memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• the mobile network unit transmitting an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit;
• any of the fixed network units that receive that identification signal directly from the mobile network unit measuring the strength of the identification signal and transmitting the received identification signal and the signal strength data to the control unit;
• any of the fixed network units that receive the identification signal and signal strength data indirectly from another fixed network unit transmitting the identification signal and signal strength data onwards to the control unit;
• the control unit processor processing the identification signal and the signal strength data received from a pair of the fixed network units that received the identification signal directly from the mobile network unit and determining the location of the mobile network unit.

A system for monitoring the location of a mobile network unit, the system comprising a localised wireless communication network having a control unit, a plurality of fixed network units and at least one mobile network unit:

• the control unit further comprising a processor having an accessible memory;
• the mobile network unit further comprising a transmitter for transmitting an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit, and means to receive an identity code from a user so that the identification signal transmitted by the mobile network unit is generated using the identity code received from the user;
• the fixed network units each having a transceiver to receive the identification signal directly from a mobile network unit within a predetermined radius of the fixed network unit and indirectly from another fixed network unit, and to transmit the identification signal and a signal strength data to the control unit through the wireless communication network;
• the fixed network units each having a sensor to measure the strength of the identification signal received directly from the mobile network unit and output the measured strength as the signal strength data;
• the control unit processor having means to process the identification signal and the signal strength data received from a pair of the fixed network units that received the identification signal directly from the mobile network unit and determine the location of the mobile network unit.

A system for monitoring the location of a mobile network unit, the system comprising a localised wireless communication network having a control unit, a plurality of fixed network units and at least one mobile network unit:

• the control unit further comprising a processor having an accessible memory;
• the mobile network unit further comprising a transmitter for transmitting an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit, the mobile network unit transmitter transmitting the identification signal both periodically at predetermined intervals and in response to a mobile network unit operator's actions;
• the fixed network units each having a transceiver to receive the identification signal directly from a mobile network unit within a predetermined radius of the fixed network unit and indirectly from another fixed network unit, and to transmit the identification signal and a signal strength data to the control unit through the wireless communication network;
• the fixed network units each having a sensor to measure the strength of the identification signal received directly from the mobile network unit and output the measured strength as the signal strength data;
• the control unit processor having means to process the identification signal and the signal strength data received from a pair of the fixed network units that received the identification signal directly from the mobile network unit and determine the location of the mobile network unit.

A method of monitoring the location of a mobile network unit in a system comprising a localised wireless communication network having a control unit, a plurality of fixed network units and at least one mobile network unit, the mobile network unit having a transmitter to transmit an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit, the fixed network units each having a transceiver to receive the identification signal directly from a mobile network unit within a predetermined radius of the fixed network unit and indirectly from another fixed network unit, and transmit the identification signal and a signal strength data to the control unit through the wireless communication network, the fixed network units having a sensor to measure the strength of the identification signal received directly from the mobile network unit and output the measured strength as the signal strength data, the control unit having a processor and accessible memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• the mobile network unit receiving an identity code from a user;
• the mobile network unit generating an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit using the identity code of the user and transmitting the identification signal;
• any of the fixed network units that receive that identification signal directly from the mobile network unit measuring the strength of the identification signal and transmitting the received identification signal and the signal strength data to the control unit;
• any of the fixed network units that receive the identification signal and signal strength data indirectly from another fixed network unit transmitting the identification signal and signal strength data onwards to the control unit;
• the control unit processor processing the identification signal and the signal strength data received from a pair of the fixed network units that received the identification signal directly from the mobile network unit and determining the location of the mobile network unit.

A method of monitoring the location of a mobile network unit in a system comprising a localised wireless communication network having a control unit, a plurality of fixed network units and at least one mobile network unit, the mobile network unit having a transmitter to transmit an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit, the fixed network units each having a transceiver to receive the identification signal directly from a mobile network unit within a predetermined radius of the fixed network unit and indirectly from another fixed network unit, and transmit the identification signal and a signal strength data to the control unit through the wireless communication network, the fixed network units having a sensor to measure the strength of the identification signal received directly from the mobile network unit and output the measured strength as the signal strength data, the control unit having a processor and accessible memory, the method comprising the steps of:

• the mobile network unit transmitting an identification signal unique to that mobile network unit both periodically at predetermined intervals and in response to a mobile network unit operator's actions;
• any of the fixed network units that receive that identification signal directly from the mobile network unit measuring the strength of the identification signal and transmitting the received identification signal and the signal strength data to the control unit;
• any of the fixed network units that receive the identification signal and signal strength data indirectly from another fixed network unit transmitting the identification signal and signal strength data onwards to the control unit;
• the control unit processor processing the identification signal and the signal strength data received from a pair of the fixed network units that received the identification signal directly from the mobile network unit and determining the location of the mobile network unit.