MECHANICAL WATCH HAVING AN INTEGRATED TRACKING MODULE
A mechanical watch includes an internal tracking module. The tracking module includes a transmitter, a microprocessor, and optionally a GPS module and a power source. The components of the tracking module are integrated into the watch by embedding them within one or more components of the mechanical watch. If a watch is lost or stolen, the tracking module may be actuated to provide location data over a network to a software application. To conserve power, the tracking module only actively receives and/or transmits signals periodically during intermittent windows of time.
1 . A mechanical watch with an integrated tracking module comprising:
a mechanical watch having a dial and mechanical components including an hour hand, a minute hand, and a gear train formed by a plurality of gears; and,
an integrated tracking module embedded within one of the mechanical components of the watch, and the tracking module includes a transmitter and a microprocessor;
wherein the transmitter is only activated to detect an alert signal during a predetermined receiving windows of time at predetermined receiving intervals;
wherein the tracking module transmits intermittent location signals only after it receives an alert signal;
wherein the tracking module only emits the intermittent location signals only after it receives an alert signal, and the intermittent location signals are only emitted during predetermined emitting windows of time at predetermined emitting intervals; and,
wherein the transmitter further comprises an antenna integrated into one or more of the hour hand, the minute hand, a second hand, a bezel and a watch band.
2 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 1 further comprising a trigger located on one of the hour hand and the minute hand, and a trigger actuator on the dial which actuates the trigger to send a triggering signal to the tracking module when the trigger passes over the trigger actuator;
wherein the receiving windows of time and the emitting windows of time are initiated by the tracking module receiving the triggering signal.
3 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 2 , further comprising a battery dedicated to the tracking module.
4 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 3 wherein the tracking module further comprises a global positioning module, and the location signal includes data from the global positioning module.
5 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 4 wherein one or both of the hour hand and the minute hand include an illuminating light that emits green light when an alert signal has not been received, and emits a red light after an alert signal is received.
6 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 5 wherein the battery is located in a case back of the mechanical watch.
7 . The mechanical watch having an integrated tracking module of claim 6 further comprising a watch band formed by a plurality of links and a clasp, wherein the dedicated battery is integrated into one of the plurality of links.
8 . A method of locating a mechanical watch comprising:
Providing the mechanical watch with an integrated tracking module embedded within one or more mechanical components of the watch selected from the group consisting of an hour hand, a minute hand, a gear train, wherein the tracking module includes a transmitter and a microprocessor;
the tracking module only activating the transmitter to detect an alert signal at predetermined intervals;
a software application sending a continuously repeating alert signal to the tracking module;
upon receiving the alert signal, the tracking module emitting location signals during predetermined windows of time at predetermined intervals;
the software application receiving the location signal and displaying the location of the mechanical watch on a map.
9 . The method of locating a mechanical watch of claim 8 wherein the alert signal and the location signals are transmitted over a cellular phone wireless network, and the software application receives the location signal from three or more cellular phone wireless network receivers and determines the location of the mechanical watch by triangulation.
10 . The method of locating a mechanical watch of claim 9 wherein the tracking module further comprises a global positioning module and the location signal includes global positioning data from the global positioning module.