Flexible Simulated Currency Pack Tracking Unit

Abstract

A tracking unit for assisting in the recovery of stolen monies or other property includes a housing containing a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals from overhead satellites, a cellular phone transceiver, a microprocessor, and a battery. Following a theft, the microprocessor activates the cellular phone transceiver to dial the telephone number of a central monitoring station. The microprocessor obtains location data from the GPS receiver and transmits the location data, along with identification information, to the central monitoring station. The tracking unit also includes a separate, conventional RF beacon transmitter for allowing authorities to home-in on the tracking unit within a large building or other structure, either after the GPS signals are lost, or after the location of the tracking unit is localized to a specific building or area.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A security pack comprising:
 a housing simulating a bundled package of currency bills having a hollowed portion containing a plurality of components, the components comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) module disposed within said housing for receiving GPS signals for determining location of the tracking unit; 
 a first communications module disposed within said housing and configured to operate pursuant to a first communications protocol for establishing a communications link, the first communications module configured to transmit the location of and an identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link and to receive a command signal via the communications link; 
 a second communications module disposed within said housing and configured to transmit a beacon signal via a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and 
 a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said first communications module, and said second communications module, said controller configured to cause the first communications module to establish the communications link and transmit the location and identifier, and further configured to activate and deactivate the first and second communications protocols; 
 a power source disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said first and second communications modules, and said controller; 
 wherein one or more of the components are disposed on a flexible mounting/interconnecting substrate and spaced apart from one another. 
   
     
     
         15 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein each component resides on a portion of the substrate spaced apart from the portion of the substrate on which each other component resides. 
     
     
         16 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises electrical conductors for making electrical interconnections between the components. 
     
     
         17 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the first communications modules and the GPS module comprises one or more antennas coupled to a chip set. 
     
     
         18 . The security pack of  claim 17 , wherein the chip set is disposed on a top surface of the substrate and the one or more antennas comprises a first antenna disposed on a top surface of the chip set and a second antenna disposed on a bottom surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein the first communication module comprises a cellular transceiver. 
     
     
         20 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein the power source is a battery. 
     
     
         21 . The security pack of  claim 20  further comprising a power sensing circuit configured to monitor battery voltage coupled to a low battery alarm circuit configured to create an audible alarm when the battery power drops below a predefined threshold. 
     
     
         22 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein said security pack includes a power switch for minimizing electrical power drain on the power source until said security pack is activated. 
     
     
         23 . The security pack of  claim 22 , wherein said power switch includes a reed switch responsive to a magnetic field of a keeper plate, the security pack configured such that removal of the security pack from the keeper plate closes the reed switch and activates the security pack. 
     
     
         24 . The security pack of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to cause said first communications module to establish the communications link on a periodic basis after activation. 
     
     
         25 . The security pack of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is responsive to a signal received via the first communications transceiver to modify the operation of said security pack. 
     
     
         26 . The security pack of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to select an active operating mode of the tracking unit in response to receipt of the command signal, wherein a first active operating mode comprises the first communications module active and the second communications module inactive, and a second active operating mode comprises the first communications module inactive and the second communications module active. 
     
     
         27 . A security pack comprising:
 a housing simulating a bundled package of currency bills having a hollowed portion containing a plurality of components physically spaced apart from one another, the components comprising:
 a global positioning system (GPS) module disposed within said housing for receiving GPS signals for determining location of the tracking unit; 
 a first communications module disposed within said housing and configured to operate pursuant to a first communications protocol for establishing a communications link, the first communications module configured to transmit the location of and an identifier for the tracking unit via the communications link and to receive a command signal via the communications link; 
 a second communications module disposed within said housing and configured to transmit a beacon signal via a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and 
 a controller disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said first communications module, and said second communications module, said controller configured to cause the first communications module to establish the communications link and transmit the location and identifier, and further configured to activate and deactivate the first and second communications protocols; 
 a power source disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said GPS receiver, said first and second communications modules, and said controller; and 
 a plurality of flexible electrical interconnections between the components.