Method and apparatus for portable transmitting devices

1. A tag having enhanced tamper detection capabilities for use with a monitoring system, the tag having an identification code, the tag is placed within a housing, the tag comprising:

a power supply,

a central processing unit,

at least one strap for attaching the tag to the limb of a person,

a motion sensor for determining pattern of the motion of the person wearing the tag wherein the pattern of motion so determined being compared with a stored pattern of motion for determining whether the tag was tampered with;

a second sensor for detecting whether the tag was tampered with, and

a transmitter for transmitting a tamper signal to a remote monitoring unit.

2. The tag of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for receiving data from a remote monitoring unit, said data including predetermined thresholds for the operation of the motion sensor and the second sensor.

3. The tag of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

4. The tag of claim 1 wherein a motion sensor is one of the following: a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular sensor, an inclination sensor, a position sensor.

5. The tag of claim 1 wherein the second sensor is a proximity sensor for detecting the presence of a limb between the straps attached to the tag.

6. The tag of claim 1 wherein the second sensor is a strap cut sensor for detecting that at least one of the straps of the tag has been tampered with.

7. The tag of claim 6 wherein tampered with comprises a cut in or a removal of the strap.

8. A method for monitoring and detecting a monitored person's behavior for distinguishing between different monitored persons, the method comprising the steps of:

examining signals received from at least one motion sensor located within a tag strapped to the limb of a monitored person at predetermined intervals;

processing the signals to determine a pattern of motion related behavior associated with the monitored person;

storing the pattern of motion related behavior associated with the monitored person; and

comparing the pattern of motion related behavior associated with the monitored person with a motion related behavior signal pattern.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of comparing comprises the comparison of motion related behavior associated with the monitored person with a stored motion related behavior signal pattern.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of comparing is performed in the tag.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of comparing is performed in a remote monitoring unit.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting an indication signal to a remote monitoring unit.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the stored motion related behavior signal pattern was previously stored.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the stored motion related behavior signal pattern is predetermined.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the signals received from a motion sensor comprise at least one data unit, each data unit comprising the time and length of movement by the monitored person.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the pattern of motion related behavior is a series of data units comprising time and length of movement describing actions.

17. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of examining a signal received from a body or proximity sensor.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of examining the signal of the body or proximity sensor comprises comparing the signal to predetermined thresholds.

19. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of examining a signal received from a strap cut sensor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of examining the signal of the strap cut sensor comprises comparing the signal to predetermined thresholds.