# US 8,542,113 B2 · Apparatus and method for determining location and tracking coordinates of a tracking device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,113 B2 - Document ID: US8542113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/356,614 - Filed: 2012-01-23 - Published: 2013-05-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-06 - Assignees: Location Based Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Joseph F. Scalisi; David Butler; Roger B. Anderson; Desiree Mejia; Michael L. Beydler - Inventors: Joseph F. Scalisi; David Butler; Roger B. Anderson; Desiree Mejia; Michael L. Beydler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542113B2 ## CPC - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G01C 21/165: {combined with non-inertial navigation instruments} - G01S 19/19: Sporting applications - G01S 19/34: Power consumption - G01S 19/49: whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled - H04M 1/72457: according to geographic location - H04M 2250/10: including a GPS signal receiver - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A device and method to monitor location coordinates of an electronic tracking device are disclosed here. The device includes circuitry to receive at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; accelerometer circuitry to measure differential positioning of the portable electronic tracking device; and a battery power monitor configured to selectively activate and deactivate at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and location tracking circuitry. The method includes receiving at a portable electronic tracking device at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; measuring differential positioning of the portable electronic tracking device; and activating and deactivating at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and location tracking circuitry. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to control power usage comprising: measuring a receive communication signal level by primary location tracking circuitry of an electronic tracking device communicated by a primary location tracking system; reducing applied power level to the primary location tracking circuitry in response to measurement of a receive communication signal level less than a first signal level; increasing applied power level to supplemental location tracking circuitry response to measurement of the receive communication signal less than the first signal level; determining differential positional measurements based in part on acceleration measurements of supplemental location tracking circuitry associated with a secondary location tracking system; and determining positional coordinates of electronic tracking device responsive to a known reference coordinate values and the differential positional measurements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receive communication signal less than a first signal level comprises an attenuated receive communication signal less than a first signal level in response to the electronic tracking device moving to at least one of a partially enclosed or substantially enclosed structure at least partially blocked from communication with the primary location tracking system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: reactivating the primary location tracking circuitry in response to measurement of the receive communication signal above the first signal level; wherein the primary location tracking system comprises a wireless location tracking system; wherein the supplemental location tracking system comprises an accelerometer; and wherein the known reference coordinate values comprise last known coordinate values of the electronic tracking device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with a satellite based location tracking system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station. ### Claim 7 A method to control power usage comprising: measuring a receive communication signal level by primary location tracking circuitry of an electronic tracking device communicated by a primary location tracking system; adjusting applied power levels to the primary location tracking circuitry and supplemental location tracking circuitry in response to measurement of a receive communication signal level relative to a predetermined signal level; determining differential positional measurements based in part on acceleration measurements of supplemental location tracking circuitry associated with a secondary location tracking system; and determining positional coordinates of electronic tracking device responsive to a known reference coordinate values and the differential positional measurements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the receive communication signal comprises an attenuated receive communication signal less than the predetermined signal level in response to the electronic tracking device moving to at least one of a partially enclosed or substantially enclosed structure at least partially blocked from communication with the primary location tracking system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is activated in response to a measurement of the receive communication signal being above the predetermined signal level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is deactivated in response to a measurement of the receive communication signal being below the predetermined signal level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the supplemental location tracking circuitry is activated in response to a measurement of the receive communication signal being below the predetermined signal level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the supplemental location tracking circuitry is deactivated in response to a measurement of the receive communication signal being above the predetermined signal level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the primary location tracking system comprises a wireless location tracking system, the supplemental location tracking system comprises an accelerometer, and the known reference coordinate values comprise last known coordinate values of the electronic tracking device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with a satellite based location tracking system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the supplemental location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station. ### Claim 17 A portable electronic tracking device to monitor location coordinates of one or more individuals and objects, the device comprising: primary location tracking circuitry to measure a receive communication signal level communicated by a primary location tracking system and received by the electronic tracking device; supplemental location tracking circuitry to determine positional measurements based in part on measurements associated with a secondary location tracking system; and a battery power monitor configured to: reduce applied power level to the primary location tracking circuitry in response to measurement of a receive communication signal level less than a first signal level; and increase applied power level to supplemental location tracking circuitry response to measurement of the receive communication signal less than the first signal level; wherein the electronic tracking device is configured to determine positional coordinates responsive to a known reference coordinate values and the differential positional measurements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with a satellite based location tracking system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the primary location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the supplemental location tracking circuitry is configured to communicate with at least one of a portable wireless communication device, another tracking device, or a wireless communication monitoring station.