LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
`
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING REFRESH RATE OF
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`LOCATION COORDINATESOF A TRACKING DEVICE
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`Priority and Related Applications
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`This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. patent
`
`application number 11/969,905 entitled “Apparatus and Method for Determining
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`Location and Tracking Coordinates of a Tracking Device” that was filed on January 6,
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`2008, and incorporates by reference in their entirety and claims priority to U.S. patent
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`10
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`application Serial No. 11/753,979 filed on May 25, 2007, entitled “Apparatus and
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`Method for Providing Location Information on Individuals and Objects Using Tracking
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`Devices”; U.S. patent application Serial No. 11/933,024 filed on October 31, 2007,
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`entitled “Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing an Electronic Package”; US patent
`
`application Serial No. 11/784,400 filed on April 5, 2007, entitled “Communication
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`System and Method Including Dual Mode Capability”; US patent application Serial No.
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`11/784,318 filed on April 5, 2007, entitled “Communication System and Method
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`Including Communication Billing Options”; and US patent application Serial No.
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`11/935,901 filed on November 6, 2007, entitled “System and Method for Creating and
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`Managing a Personalized Web Interface for Monitoring Location Information on
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`Individuals and Objects Using Tracking Devices.”
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`Background ofthe Invention
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`1. Field of the Invention
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`The
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`invention relates generally to the
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`field of
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`location and tracking
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`communication systems. More particularly,
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`the present
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`invention relates in one
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`embodiment to a power conservation methodology and apparatus incorporated as part of
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`portable electronic tracking device for individuals and objects to improvebattery life by a
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`wireless location and tracking system and/or wireless communication system (WCS).
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`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`2. Description of Related Technology
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`Accelerometers are conventionally integrated into electronics systems that are
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`part of a vehicle, vessel, and airplane to detect, measure, and monitor deflections,
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`vibrations, and acceleration. Accelerometers, for example, may include one or more
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`Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices.
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`In particular, MEMS devices
`
`include one or more suspended cantilever beams(e.g., single-axis, dual-axis, and three-
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`axis models), as well as deflection sensing circuitry. Accelerometers are utilized by a
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`multitude of electronics manufacturers.
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`For
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`instance, electronics gaming manufacturers exploit an accelerometer’s
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`deflection sensing capability, for instance,
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`to measure device tilt and control game
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`functionality.
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`In another instance, consumer electronics manufacturers, e.g., Apple,
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`Ericsson, and Nike, incorporate accelerometers in personal electronic devices, e.g., Apple
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`iPhone to provide a changeable screen display orientation that toggles between portrait
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`and landscape layout window settings;
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`to manage human inputs through a human
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`interface, e.g., Apple iPod® touch screen interface; and to measure game movement and
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`tilt, e.g., Wii gaming remotes. Still others including automobile electronics circuitry
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`manufacturers utilize MEMS accelerometers to initiate airbag deployment in accordance
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`with a detected collision severity level by measuring negative vehicle acceleration.
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`Other electronics manufacturer products, e.g., Nokia 5500 sport, count step
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`motions using a 3D accelerometer, and translate user information via user’s taps or
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`shaking motion to select songtitles and to enable mp3 player track switching.
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`In another
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`instance, portable or laptop computers include hard-disk drives integrated with an
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`accelerometer to detect displacementor falling incidents. For instance, when a hard-disk
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`accelerometer detects a low-g condition, e.g., indicating free-fall and expected shock, a
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`hard-disk write feature may be temporarily disabled to avoid accidental data overwriting
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`and prevent stored data corruption. After free-fall and expected shock, the hard-disk
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`write feature is enabled to allow data to be written to one or more hard-disk tracks. Still
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`others including medical product manufacturers utilize accelerometers to measure depth
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`of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
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`(CPR)
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`chest
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`compressions.
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`Sportswear
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`manufacturers, e.g., Nike sports watches and footwear,
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`incorporate accelerometers to
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`feedback speed and distance to a runner via a connected iPod® Nano.
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`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`Still others including manufacturers of conventional inertial navigation systems
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`deploy one or more accelerometers as part of, for instance, on-board electronics of a
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`vehicle, vessel,
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`train and/or airplane.
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`In addition to accelerometer measurements,
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`conventional inertial navigation systems integrate one or more gyroscopes with the on-
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`board electronics to assist tracking including performing various measurements,e.g., tilt,
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`angle, and roll. More specifically, gyroscopes measure angular velocity, for instance, of
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`a vehicle, vessel,
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`train, and/or airplane in an inertial reference frame. The inertial
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`reference frame, provided, for instance, by a human operator, a GPS receiver, or position
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`and velocity measurements from one or more motion sensors.
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`Morespecifically, integration of measured inertial accelerations commences with,
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`for instance, original velocity, for instance, of a vehicle, vessel, train, and/or airplane to
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`yield updated inertial system velocities. Another integration of updated inertial system
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`velocities yields an updated inertial system orientation, e.g., tilt, angle, and roll, within a
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`system limited positioning accuracy.
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`In one instance to improve positioning accuracy,
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`conventional inertial navigation systems utilize GPS system outputs.
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`In another instance
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`to improve positioning accuracy, conventional inertial navigation systems intermittently
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`reset to zero inertial tracking velocity, for instance, by stopping the inertial navigation
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`system.
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`In yet other examples, control theory and Kalmanfiltering provide a framework
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`to combine motion sensor information in attempts to improve positional accuracy ofthe
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`updated inertial system orientation.
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`Potential drawbacks of many conventional inertial navigation systems include
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`electrical and mechanical hardware occupyinga large real estate footprint and requiring
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`complex electronic measurement and control circuitry with limited applicably to changed
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`environmental conditions. Furthermore, many conventional inertial navigation system
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`calculations are prone to accumulated acceleration and velocity measurement errors. For
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`instance, many conventional inertial navigation acceleration and velocity measurement
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`errors are on the order of 0.6 nautical miles per hour in position and tenths of a degree per
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`hour in orientation.
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`In contrast to conventional inertial navigation systems, a conventional Global
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`Positioning Satellite (GPS) system uses Global Positioning Signals (GPS) to monitor and
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`track location coordinates communicated between location coordinates monitoring
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`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`satellites and an individual or an object having a GPS transceiver.
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`In this system, GPS
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`monitoring of location coordinates is practical when a GPStransceiver receives at least a
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`minimal GPS signal level. However, a minimal GPSsignal level may not be detectable
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`when an individual or object is not located in a skyward position. For instance, when an
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`individual or object carrying a GPS transceiver enters a covered structure, e.g., a garage,
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`a parking structure, or a large building, GPS satellite communication signals may be
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`obstructed or partially blocked, hindering tracking and monitoring capability. Not only is
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`a GPS transceiver receiving a weak GPS signal, but also the GPS transceiver is depleting
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`battery power in failed attempts to acquire communication signals from one or more
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`location coordinates monitoring satellites, e.g., GPS satellites, or out-of-range location
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`coordinates reference towers.
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`Furthermore, weak GPS communication signals may
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`introduce errors in location coordinates information.
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`In addition during the acquisition of signaling and or other information, a
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`conventional GPS transceiver has limited functionality or capabilities associated with
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`control and monitoring of battery power usage.
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`For instance, a conventional GPS
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`transceiver may have some indication battery charge level such as a powerlevel bar but
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`have very few or any ability or capability to control or reduce power usage. Furthermore,
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`often users do not realize or are only alerted when their GPS transceiver is using reserve
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`poweror about to suddenly involuntarily shut-down to prevent data loss and loss of other
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`user
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`information such as personal GPS settings, screen color displays, and user
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`recreationalor pleasuresettings.
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`More
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`specifically, users of conventional GPS transceivers
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`typically are
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`unprepared for such a sudden loss of GPS transceiver service. Generally, within minutes
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`of an initial warning indication, e.g., beeping, vibration, voice, alarms or combination
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`25
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`thereof, the GPS transceiver shuts off. As such, a user may suddenly experience loss of
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`location determination or location based capabilities or monitoring or being monitored
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`capabilities and not prepared for such sudden outage. Furthermore, even if a user could
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`reduce battery power usage, a result, within the last few minutes of battery power, a user
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`has little or no incentive or capability to alter battery usage of a conventional GPS
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`30
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`transceiver due to low power level GPS transceivers may suddenly become non-
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`operational without any warning to or recourse to a user. Thus, when a conventional
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`

`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`GPS transceiver is low in powerlevel, a user’s most viable alternative would be locating
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`an electrical outlet to recharge their conventional GPS transceiver.
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`In summary, electronic tracking device and methodology that provides additional
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`advantages over conventional systems such as improved power management, e.g.,
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`efficient use of battery power and provide other improvements include supplementing
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`conventional electronic tracking device monitoring,
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`e.g.,
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`increased measurement
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`accuracy of location coordinates of objects and individuals traveling into and/or through a
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`structure, e.g., a partially covered building, a parking structure, or a substantially
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`enclosed structure, such as a basementor a storage area in a high-rise office building.
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`Summary of the Invention
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`In a first aspect of the present invention, a portable electronic apparatus for a
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`tracking device is disclosed.
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`In one embodiment, the tracking device includes a battery
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`having a battery charge level, transceiver circuitry, processor circuitry, and a battery
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`power monitor.
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`In one embodiment, the battery power monitor measuresin real-time the
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`battery charge level and makes a prediction of an estimated remaining battery charge
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`level in responseto the battery charge level.
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`In one variant, a local battery power adjustment mechanism generates in
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`substantially real-time an updated set of network communication signaling protocols
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`associated with at
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`least one of a request rate of location coordinate packets to be
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`communicated to a target host and a listen rate of the location coordinate packets.
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`In yet
`
`another variant, the updated set of network communication signaling protocols has a
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`value that is responsive to a user input request.
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`In yet another embodiment, the local
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`battery power adjustment mechanism activates or deactivates one or more portions of the
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`transceiver circuitry to conserve the battery charge level.
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`In yet another embodiment, the
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`local battery power adjustment mechanism activates or deactivates the processor to
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`conserve the battery charge level in response to the value having the value responsive to a
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`user input request.
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`In a second aspect of the present invention, a local charging management device
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`30
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`is disclosed to manage electrical resource capability for an electronic tracking device that
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`is tracked by at least one other tracking device.
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`In one embodiment,
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`local charging
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`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
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`management device includes a battery power monitor, a charging unit; and an electrical
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`powerresource management component. In one variant, the power resource management
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`component adjusts cycle timing of a request rate of location coordinate packets
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`communicated to a target host responsive to an estimate charge level of the charging unit.
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`In another variant, the power resource management componentadjusts a listen rate of
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`location coordinate packets responsive to an estimated charge level of the charging unit.
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`In yet another variant, the power resource management component adjusts one or more of
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`request rate of location coordinate packets to a target host and a listen rate of location
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`coordinate packets responsive to an estimated charge level of the charging unit.
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`10
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`In another aspect of the present invention, a methodis disclosed to control power
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`usage.
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`In one embodiment, the method includes measurement of charging unit power
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`level of a tracking device communicated by a location coordinate tracking system, and
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`adjustment of charging unit power level of the tracking device in response to a
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`substantially-real life estimate of the unit power level of a charge unit of the tracking
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`device.
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`In one variant, the method includes creation of an initial timing schedule for
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`communication of signaling parameters associated with a request rate communicated with
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`location coordinate information and listen rate communicated with the location
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`coordinate information, the initial time schedule beingat least partially automatically and
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`responsive to an estimated power level of the charge unit.
`
`In yet another variant, the
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`20
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`method includes readjustment of the initial
`
`timing schedule for communication of
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`signaling parameters in accordance with a local request by a remote user using an Internet
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`accessible icon that displays user viewable tradeoffs between the estimated charge unit
`
`life and charge unit updaterate.
`
`These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of the present
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`25
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`invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will
`
`become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description of
`
`the invention and referenced drawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects,
`
`advantages and features of the invention are realized and attained by means of the
`
`instrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended
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`claims.
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`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`Figure 1
`
`illustrates a schematic of an electronic tracking device in accordance
`
`with an embodimentof the present invention.
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a location tracking system associated with the electronic
`
`tracking device and the wireless network in accordance with an embodiment of the
`
`present invention.
`
`Figure 3 illustrates a flow diagram to manage and controlcircuitry associated with
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`the electronic tracking device of Figures 1 and 2 in accordance with an embodiment of
`
`the present invention.
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`10
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`Figure 4 illustrates a screen display including a user definable adjustable power
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`level monitor in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.
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`Figure 5 illustrates a location coordinate navigational system utilizing user
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`definable power level monitor of Figure 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the
`
`present invention.
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`15
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`Figure 6 illustrates a location coordinate navigation system utilizing a user
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`definable power level monitor of Figure 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the
`
`present invention.
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`Figure 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a user definable adjustable power level
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`monitor in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.
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`Reference is now made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts
`
`Detailed Description
`
`throughout.
`
`As used herein, the terms “location coordinates” refer without limitation to any
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`25
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`set or partial set of integer, real and/or complex location data or information such as
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`longitudinal, latitudinal, and elevational positional coordinates.
`
`As used herein, the terms “tracking device” and “electronic tracking device”
`
`refers to without limitation to any hybrid electronic circuit, integrated circuit (IC), chip,
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`chip set, system-on-a-chip, microwave integrated circuit (MIC), Monolithic Microwave
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`30
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`Integrated Circuit (MMIC), low noise amplifier, power amplifier, transceiver, receiver,
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`transmitter and Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that may be constructed
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`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`and/or fabricated. The chip or IC maybe constructed (“fabricated”) on a small rectangle
`
`(a “die”) cut from, for example, a Silicon (or special applications, Sapphire), Gallium
`
`Arsenide, or Indium Phosphide wafer. The IC may be classified, for example,
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`into
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`analogue, digital, or hybrid (both analogue and digital on the same chip and/or analog-to-
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`digital converter). Digital integrated circuits may contain anything from one to millions
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`of logic gates, invertors, and, or, nand, and norgates, flipflops, multiplexors, etc. on a
`
`few square millimeters. The small size of these circuits allows high speed, low power
`
`dissipation, and reduced manufacturing cost compared with board-level integration.
`
`As used herein,
`
`the terms “data transfer”, “tracking and location system”,
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`10
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`“location and tracking system”, “location tracking system”, and “positioning system,”
`
`refer to without
`
`limitation to any system that
`
`transfers and/or determines location
`
`coordinates using one or more devices, such as Global Positioning System (GPS).
`
`Asused herein, the terms “Global Positioning System” refer to without limitation
`
`to any services, methodsor devicesthat utilize GPS technology to determine position of a
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`15
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`GPS receiver based on measuring a signal transfer time of signals communicated between
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`satellites having known positions and the GPS receiver. A signal transfer time is
`
`proportional to a distance of a respective satellite from the GPS receiver. The distance
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`between a satellite and a GPS receiver may be converted, utilizing signal propagation
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`velocity, into a respective signal transfer time. The positional information of the GPS
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`20
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`receiver is calculated based on distance calculations from at
`
`least four satellites to
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`determine positional information of the GPS receiver.
`
`As used herein,
`
`the terms “wireless network”, “wireless communication”,
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`“wireless link”, and “wireless transmission” refers to, without limitation, any digital,
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`analog, microwave, and millimeter wave communication networks that transfer signals
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`25
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`from one location to another location, such as, but not
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`limited to IEEE 802.11g,
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`Bluetooth, WiMax, IS-95, GSM, IS-95, CGM, CDMA, wCDMA, PDC, UMTS, TDMA,
`
`and FDMA,or combinationsthereof.
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`Major Features
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`30
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`In one aspect, the present invention discloses an apparatus and method to provide
`
`an improved capability electronic tracking device.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`the device
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`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
`
`provides electronic circuitry including an accelerometer to measure location coordinates
`
`without requiring GPS signaling.
`
`In this embodiment,
`
`location coordinates of an
`
`electronic tracking device are measured when the electronic tracking device is located in
`
`a partially enclosed structure, e.g., a building or parking lot, up to a fully enclosed
`
`structure.
`
`In one embodiment, the electronic tracking device conserves battery power
`
`when the device is partially or fully blocked access to location coordinates from one or
`
`more GPS satellites, e.g., a primary location tracking system.
`
`In yet another
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`embodiment, accelerometer measures force applied to the electronic tracking device and
`
`provides an alert message to a guardian or other responsible person. In one embodiment,
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`10
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`the alert message includes location coordinates of the electronic tracking device and other
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`information, e.g., magnitude or nature of force, as well as possibility of injury of an
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`object or individual having the electronic tracking device. As described though out the
`
`following specification, the present invention generally provides a portable electronic
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`device configuration for locating and tracking an individual or an object.
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`Exemplary Apparatus
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`Referring now to Figs. 1-2 and 4-6 exemplary embodiments of the electronic
`
`tracking device of the invention are described in detail. Please note that the following
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`discussions of electronics and components for an electronic tracking device to monitor
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`and locate individuals are non-limiting; thus, the present invention may be useful in other
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`electronic signal
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`transferring and communication applications, such as electronics
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`modules included in items such as: watches, calculators, clocks, computer keyboards,
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`computer mice, and/or mobile phones to location and track trajectory of movement and
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`current location of these items within boundaries of or proximity to a room, building,
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`city, state, and country.
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`Furthermore, it will be appreciated that while described primarily in the context of
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`tracking individuals or objects, at least portions of the apparatus and methods described
`
`herein may be used in other applications, such as, utilized, without limitation, for control
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`systems that monitor components such as transducers, sensors, and electrical and/or
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`30
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`optical components that are part of an assembly line process. Moreover,
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`it will be
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`recognized that
`
`the present
`
`invention may find utility beyond purely tracking and
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`

`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`monitoring concerns. Myriad of other functions will be recognized by those of ordinary
`
`skill in the art given the present disclosure.
`
`Electronic Tracking Device
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`Referring to Figure 1, tracking device 100 contains various electronic components
`
`101 such as transceiver 102, signal processing circuitry 104 (e.g., a microprocessor or
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`other signal logic circuitry), and accelerometer 130.
`
`In one non-limiting example, the
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`electronic components 101 are disposed, deposited, or mounted on a substrate 107 (e.g.,
`
`Printed Circuit Board (PCB)). The PCB 107, for example, may be manufactured from:
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`10
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`polyacryclic (PA), polycarbonate (PC), composite material, and arylonitrile-butadiene-
`
`styrene (ABS) substrates, blends or combinations thereof, or the like (as described in
`
`more detail in incorporated by reference US patent application Serial No. 11/933,024
`
`filed on October 31, 2007). The signal processing circuitry 104,
`
`in one example,
`
`associated with the tracking device 100 configured to store a first identification code,
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`15
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`produce a second identification code, determine location coordinates, and generate a
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`positioning signal that contains location data (as described in more detail in incorporated
`
`by reference US patent application Serial No. 11/753,979 filed on May 25, 2007). For
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`instance, the location data includes longitudinal, latitudinal, and elevational position of a
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`tracking device, current address or recent address of the tracking device, a nearby
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`landmark to the tracking device, and the like.
`
`In one example, electronic tracking device
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`100 is portable, mobile and fits easily within a compact volume, such as standard shirt
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`pocket having approximate dimensionsof 1.5 inch by 2.5 inch by 1.0 inch. In yet another
`
`example, electronic tracking device
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`100 may be one integrated circuit having
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`dimensionality in the mm range inall directions (or even smaller).
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`25
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`In one embodiment,
`
`location tracking circuitry 114, calculates location data
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`received and sends the data to signal processing circuitry 104. Memory 112 stores
`
`operating software and data, for instance, communicated to and from signal processing
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`circuit 104 and/or location tracking circuitry 114, e.g., GPS logic circuitry.
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`In one
`
`embodiment, a signal detecting circuitry 115 detects and measures signal powerlevel. In
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`30
`
`another embodiment, the signal processing circuitry 104 processes and measures signal
`
`powerlevel. Battery level detection circuitry (e.g., battery level monitor 116) detects a
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`LBTECH.012CP1
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`PATENT
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`battery level of battery 118, which contains one or more individual units or grouped as a
`
`single unit.
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`In one non-limiting example, antennas 122a, 122b electrically couple to
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`transceiver 102.
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`In one variant, transceiver 102 includes one integrated circuit or, in
`
`another embodiment, may be multiple individual circuits or
`
`integrated circuits.
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`Transceiver 102 communicates a signal including location data between tracking device
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`100 and the monitoring station 110, for example, by any of the following including:
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`wireless network, wireless data transfer station, wired telephone, and Internet channel. A
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`demodulator circuit 126 extracts baseband signals, for instance at 100 KHz, including
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`10
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`tracking device configuration and software updates, as well as converts a low-frequency
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`ACsignal to a DC voltage level. The DC voltage level, in one example, is supplied to
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`battery charging circuitry 128 to recharge a battery level of the battery 118.
`
`In one
`
`embodiment, a user of monitoring station 110, e.g., a mobile personal digital assistant,
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`mobile phone, or the like, by listening (or downloading) one or more advertisements to
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`15
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`reduce and/or shift usage charges to another user, account, or database (as described in
`
`more detail in previous incorporated by reference US patent applications Serial No.
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`11/784,400 and 11/784,318 each filed on April 5, 2007).
`
`In another embodiment, an accelerometer 130,
`
`for example,
`
`a dual-axis
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`accelerometer 130, e.g. ADXL320 integrated circuit manufactured by Analog Devices
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`20
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`having two substantially orthogonal beams, may beutilized. The data sheet ADXH320L
`
`from Analog Devices
`
`is
`
`incorporated by reference.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`the
`
`accelerometer 130 activates upon one or more designated antenna(s), e.g., antennas 122a,
`
`122b, detecting a first signal level, e.g., a low signal level or threshold value, as specified
`
`by, for instance, a user or system administrator.
`
`In one variant of this embodiment,
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`25
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`electrical circuitry associated with GPS signal acquisition, e.g., all or a portion of
`
`amplifier block 120, may be, for instance, placed on standby or in a sleep mode. In
`
`another embodiment,
`
`the accelerometer 130 remains in a standby mode until,
`
`for
`
`instance, a system administrator, a specified time period, or a user activates the
`
`accelerometer 130.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`the amplifier block 120 includes multiple
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`30
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`electronic functions and blocks including a low noise amplifier, a power amplifier, a RF
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`11
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`LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
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`power switch, or the like, placed in a sleep or standby mode,for instance, to converse a
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`battery level of the battery 118.
`
`In another variant of this embodiment, circuitry, such as amplifier block 120 or
`
`location tracking circuitry 114, may be placed in a sleep or standby mode to conserve a
`
`battery level of the battery 118.
`
`In one variant, the tracking device 100 periodically
`
`checks availability of GPS signal, e.g., performs a GPS signal acquisition to determine if
`
`a receive communication signal is above a first signal level. Referring to embodiment
`
`depicted in Figure 2, electronic tracking device 100 exits an opening 150 in partially
`
`enclosed structure 210; thus, electronic tracking device 100 may resume GPS signal
`
`10
`
`acquisition using GPS satellite 143 (e.g., in response to a periodic check by the tracking
`
`device 100 of a receive communication signal level abovea first signal level).
`
`In one embodiment, system administrator selects a signal noise bandwidth, e.g.,
`
`within a range of 3 to 500 Hz, of the accelerator 130 to measure dynamic acceleration
`
`(e.g., due to vibration forces applied to electronic tracking device 100).
`
`In another
`
`15
`
`embodiment, system administrator selects a signal noise bandwidth, e.g., within a range
`
`of 3 to 500 Hz, to measure static acceleration (due to gravitational forces applied to
`
`electronic tracking device 100).
`
`In particular, external forces on electronic tracking
`
`device 100 cause, for example, internal structural movements, e.g., deflection of dual-
`
`axis beams, of the accelerometer 130. The deflection of dual-axis beams generates
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`20
`
`differential voltage(s).
`
`Differential voltage(s) are proportional
`
`to acceleration measurements, e.g.,
`
`discrete acceleration measurements, of electronic tracking device 100, for instance in x,
`
`y, and z directions. Differential voltage(s), in one instance, are relative to, for instance, a
`
`last known GPS location coordinates of electronic tracking device 100. By performing
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`25
`
`electronic device proximity measurements, e.g., measuring acceleration vectors of
`
`electronic tracking device 100 at time intervals, e.g., Tl, T2, T3 ... TN, monitoring
`
`station 110 computes electronic tracking device velocity at time intervals, e.g., T1, T2,
`
`T3...TN. In one embodiment, time intervals, e.g.,T1, T2, and T3 ... TN are measured
`
`in accordance with instructions by a system administrator or user.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`30
`
`time intervals are selected within a range of one micro-secondto several minutes.
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`12
`
`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
`
`In one embodiment, the monitoring station 110 performs an integration of the
`
`acceleration measurements as a function of time to compute electronic tracking device
`
`velocity at time intervals, e.g., Tl, T2, and T3....TN. By referencing prior location
`
`coordinates, e.g., last known accurate location data of the electronic tracking device 100
`
`or last known location data of nearby electronic tracking device (e.g., second tracking
`
`device 101 in proximity to electronic tracking device 100), monitoring station 110
`
`computes a current location of electronic tracking device 100 utilizing electronic tracking
`
`device velocity computations. Advantageously, monitoring station 110,
`
`in an above
`
`described embodiment, uses above described device proximity measurements to monitor
`
`10
`
`current location data of electronic tracking device 100 without connectivity to receive
`
`communication signals from GPSsatellites.
`
`In one embodiment, the monitoring station 110 may include a mobile phone
`
`having connectivity to wireless network 140 electrically coupled to electronic tracking
`
`device 100 (Figure 2).
`
`In this variant, the wireless network 140 resides or circulates
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`15
`
`within at
`
`least a portion of a semi-enclosed, partially-enclosed, or fully enclosed
`
`structure, e.g., building, parking structure, closet, storage room,or the like (e.g., structure
`
`210 in Figure 2). Furthermore,
`
`in one embodiment, the present invention conserves
`
`battery power by placing on standby, low power mode, or disabling entirely GPS signal
`
`acquisition circuitry and other associated devices, e.g., all or a portion of amplifier block
`
`20
`
`120 including power amplifiers, LNAs, switches, and the like. Furthermore, during
`
`supplemental
`
`location
`
`coordinates
`
`tracking,
`
`e.g.
`
`electronic
`
`device
`
`proximity
`
`measurements, the transceiver circuitry (e.g., transceiver 102, location tracking circuitry
`
`114, and signal processing circuitry 104) consumes reduced battery power for GPS
`
`circuitry while the electronic tracking device 100 communicates displacement vectors
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`25
`
`(e.g., differential location coordinates) to monitoring station 110 (e.g., a mobile phone, a
`
`personal digital assistant) through a wireless network 140. As described above, when
`
`GPS signaling is not practicable, electronic device proximity measurements provide
`
`differential
`
`location coordinate information to calculate current
`
`location coordinate
`
`information.
`
`30
`
`In one embodiment, accelerometer, e.g., accelerometer 130, determines
`
`if
`
`electronic tracking device 100 in a stationary position for a period,
`
`for instance,
`
`13
`
`

`

`LBTECH.012CP1
`
`PATENT
`
`designated by system administrator or user. For example, electronic tracking device 100
`
`may be, for example, located on a counter top, within a pocket of clothing, or inside a
`
`suitcase, not being moved, or not currently in use. Continuing with this embodiment,
`
`electronic tracking device 100 communicates a code, e.g., a stationary acknowledgement
`
`code, to communication network, e.g., wireless network 140.
`
`In one variant, when or if
`
`monitoring station 110 requests location data through communication network, electronic
`
`tracking device 100 determines located in a stationary or substantially stationary position
`
`and electronic tracking device 100 communicates its
`
`last-known location to the
`
`monitoring station