Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset
The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. Location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is then communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is then queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including a representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is then communicated to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.
1. An asset tracking system comprising:
means adapted for receiving device data representative of at least one property of each of a plurality of portable asset tracking devices, the at least one property including device identification data;
means adapted for identifying at least one client corresponding to received identification data;
alert means adapted for generating alert data corresponding to a triggering of a tracking event in connection with at least one portable asset tracking device of the plurality of portable asset tracking devices;
means adapted for isolating event data corresponding to at least one tracking event corresponding to operation of the alert means;
means adapted for receiving, on at least one mobile tracking system, a signal from the at least one portable asset tracking device;
means adapted for communicating first location data of the at least one mobile tracking system in accordance with a position associated therewith relative to the signal received from the at least one portable asset tracking device;
location means adapted for generating second location data corresponding to a location of the at least one portable asset tracking device in accordance with the mobile tracking system first location data and at least two tracking systems, the at least two tracking systems including a cellular communication system;
means adapted for receiving intercept data generated in accordance with the first location data of the at least one mobile tracking system and the second location data corresponding to the location of the at least one portable asset tracking device, the intercept data being representative of an optimal route to the at least one portable asset tracking device by the at least one mobile tracking system;
means adapted for communicating the intercept data to the at least one mobile tracking device;
means adapted for receiving device service data corresponding to an operational history of the at least one portable asset tracking device via the cellular communication system;
means adapted for receiving temporal data representative of at least one temporal property of the tracking event; and
means adapted for generating display data in accordance with device data, event data, location data, device service data, and temporal data after generation of the alert data by the alert means.
2. The asset tracking system of claim 1 wherein the location means includes means adapted for providing temporally displaced updates to the second location data generated.
3. The asset tracking system of claim 2 wherein the location means includes means for generating the second location data with at least one of GPS data and cellular phone data relating to the at least one tracking device.
4. The asset tracking system of claim 3 further comprising:
means adapted for acquiring cartographical data from an associated data storage; and
means adapted for generating a composite map display data in accordance with the second location data and the cartographical data.
5. The asset tracking system of claim 4 further comprising:
database means adapted for storing of device identification data, event data, location data, device service data, and temporal data associated with the at least one tracking event;
means adapted for receiving query data corresponding to a selected query of the database; and
means adapted for generating query response data in accordance with application of received query data to the database means.
6. The asset tracking system of claim 4 further comprising thin client display generator means adapted for generating the display data, composite map display data, and query response data in a format so as to be displayable on an associated web browser.
7. An asset tracking method comprising the steps of:
receiving device data representative of at least one property of each of a plurality of portable asset tracking devices, the at least one property including device identification data;
identifying at least one client corresponding to received identification data;
generating alert data corresponding to a triggering of a tracking event in connection with at least one portable asset tracking device of the plurality of portable asset tracking devices;
isolating event data corresponding to at least one tracking event corresponding to the generation of alert data;
receiving, on at least one mobile tracking system, a signal from the at least one portable asset tracking device;
communicating first location data of the at least one mobile tracking system in accordance with a position associated therewith relative to the signal received from the at least one portable asset tracking device;
generating second location data corresponding to a location of the at least one portable asset tracking device in accordance with the mobile tracking system first location data and at least two tracking systems, the at least two tracking systems including a cellular communication system;
receiving intercept data generated in accordance with the first location data of the at least one mobile tracking system and the second location data corresponding to the location of the at least one portable asset tracking device, the intercept data being representative of an optimal route to the at least one portable asset tracking device by the at least one mobile tracking system;
communicating the intercept data to the at least one mobile tracking device;
receiving device service data corresponding to an operational history of the at least one portable asset tracking device via the cellular communication system;
receiving temporal data representative of at least one temporal property of the tracking event; and
generating display data in accordance with device data, event data, location data, device service data, and temporal data after generation of the alert data.
8. The asset tracking method of claim 7 wherein the step of generating location data includes providing temporally displaced updates to the second location data generated.
9. The asset tracking method of claim 8 wherein the step of generating location data includes generating the second location data with at least one of GPS data and cellular phone data relating to the at least one tracking device.
10. The asset tracking method of claim 9 further comprising the steps:
acquiring cartographical data from an associated data storage; and
generating a composite map display data in accordance with the second location data and the cartographical data.
11. The asset tracking method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
storing of device identification data, event data, location data, device service data, and temporal data associated with the at least one tracking event;
receiving query data corresponding to a selected query of the database; and
generating query response data in accordance with application of received query data to the database.
12. The asset tracking method of claim 10 further comprising the step of generating the display data, composite map display data, and query response data in a format so as to be displayable on an associated web browser.