GB2395079A

GB2395079A - Laptop PC tagging device

Info

Publication number: GB2395079A
Application number: GB0224980A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kuldip Bajwa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: GB0224980D0

Abstract

A laptop tracking/tagging system based on Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and Global System Mobile (GSM) technologies. This tracking tag is intended to be installed within portable equipment such as laptop computers ideally behind the LCD screen or beneath the keyboard of the laptop device in order to trace their movement in the event of theft. The GPS signals are received by the patch aerial and passed directly to GPS Receiver. No pre-amplifier is required as connection distance is short. GPS receiver after acquiring sufficient satellites will send out position and time data in NMEA format, feeding this data to the micro-controller and passed to the GSM Dialler as depicted in 1-figure 1. The system will be designed to respond to a tracking request received via the GSM interface. Once a request has been received the unit will respond with its position to the tracking centre's centralised computers, which are based around a PC link to a GSM dialler. The Graphical User Interface 2-figure 1 will plot GPS data onto maps to allow the tag location, direction of travel to be understood by a human operator.

Description

239St)79 This document is a proposal for work to be Gamed out by Wave

Solutions for E E.S Lid (Enterpnse Software Solutions LimitedJ. The client wishes to develop a miniature trackin device based on GPS (Global Positioning by Safellife) and GSM (Global Systeme Mobile) technologies. The tracking tag Is intended to be installed wifbin portable eqvipmenf such as laptop computers in order to trace their movement in the event of fReft. The client is aware of the lmtaf/ons of (3PS and GSM coverage and pefforrnance.

1. Background

The GPS system is an established method for determining the location of an object or person thoughout the world. The GSM telephone system is established as a robust communications link in many countries world-wide, The proposed project links the two technologies and advances in miniaturization with the eventual aim of producing a tracking tag small enough to ht within a laptop PC.

There are limitations to GPS coverage; location within buildings is not possible and operation within vehicles is partial. The GSM coverage areas are often limited to large population areas and highways.

2: Project outline.

2.1 System block desanption.

The system components are described by diagram D048_01ADWG. GPS receivers are now available which are small and with low power consumption. GSM diallers (also described as modems) are also available, although not as small as would be desired. The remaining control and interface electronics will be designed by Wave Solutions.

The GPS signals are received by the patch aerial and passed directly to the GPS receiver.

No pre-amplifier is required because the connection distance is short. The GPS receiver, after acquiring sufficient satellites, will send out positional and time data in NMEA format.

This can be read by the micro-controller and passed to the GSM dialler. The system will be designed to respond to a tracking request received via the GSM interface. Once a request has been received the unit may respond with it's position; should the unit be out of GPS coverage it may dial the tracking centre later when it has positional information to send.

i Power for the system shall be both from the laptop and a standby battery; this provides the tag every chance to communicate it s position even if the laptop battery is dis-charged. It should be feasible to provide battery capacity for several hours standby operation although this will be a compromise depending on the hnai size and weight limitations of the tag.

The tracking centre shall be based around a PC linked to a GSM dialler. The GUI (Graphical User Interface) will plot the GPS data onto maps to allow the tag location to be understood by a human operator (without detailed navigation training). There may be optional facilities to log the tag positions and direction of travel.

Claims

1. Laptop personal computer system, with a miniature-tracking device installed inside of it resulting in a Laptop personal computer tracking/tagging system.

2. The tracking device as per Claim 1, will be mounted behind the screen and or beneath the

keyboard of any type of portable computer i.e. laptop or PDA device etc.

3. The portable computer tracking/tagging as per Claim 1 and Claim 2 will make use of Miniature tracking devices based on Global Positioning by Satellite (GPS) and Global System Mobile (C;SM) technologies.

4. The portable computer tracking/tagging as per Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 will consist of a small power supply unit (PSU), EEPROM Memory. GPS Receiver, GSM Modem transmitter and an a small Printed Integrated Circuit (PIC)

5. The portable computer tracking/tagging as per Claim 4, will be wholly integrated and mounted behind the screen of the laptop or any other portable device with the transmitter and receiver antennas mounted on either of the laptop screen and/or beneath the keyboard of the device with no interference of exiting components and the intended functionality of the laptop.

6. The portable computer tracking/tagging as per Claim 5 will transmit signals over a GSM Network via a NMEA protocol to a centralised computer system as depicted in the accompanying drawing.