System and method for locating physical assets

Abstract

A stolen asset locating system includes a first locating device ‘LD’ associated with a first asset and having a first wireless communication unit for communicating over a public mobile radio network PMRN with any of: an operations control centre; a second LD associated with a second asset; or a mobile location tracking system. A second wireless communication unit uses a different wireless technology or protocol to that of the first wireless communication unit. When the second communication unit is a private radio frequency network ‘PRFN’ operated by an asset location system service provider, the first LD may use the second communication unit to communicate directly with the second LD to convey information. When the second communication unit communicates on a public radio network PRN, the first LD may communicate on a PRN, when it is determined that communication cannot be transmitted by the first LD using the PMRN.

1 . An asset location system comprising:
 an operations control centre;   a mobile location tracking system; and   a plurality of locating devices ‘LDs’, each LD being associated with a respective asset, each LD being configured to communicate with the operation control center, another LD, or the mobile location tracking system using a wireless local area network ‘WLAN’ or a wireless metropolitan area network ‘WMAN’.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the WLAN or WMAN is any of: a publicly accessible WLAN or WMAN; a publicly subscribable WLAN or WMAN; or a publicly provisioned WLAN or WMAN. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the WLAN is a IEEE802.11 type or similar WLAN or the WMAN is a IEEE802.16 ypye or similar WMAN. 
     
     
         4 . A locating device ID′ for an asset location system, wherein said LD is associated with an asset and comprises a wireless local area network ‘WLAN’ or a wireless metropolitan area network ‘WMAN’ enabled communication unit for communicating with any of: an operation control centre; a LD of another asset; or a mobile location tracking system. 
     
     
         5 . An asset location system comprising:
 an operations control centre ‘OCC’;   a mobile location tracking system; and   a plurality of locating devices ‘LDs’, the plurality of LDs being configured to communicate over a wireless communication medium with any of: the OCC; one or more other LDs; and/or the mobile location tracking system, wherein one or more of said LDs is configured to obtain identifier data from one or more fixed devices in a wireless communication network and to either:   
       a) determine locally an approximate location for said LD based on said obtained identifier data; or 
       b) transmit said obtained identifier data to another device in the asset location system to enable said other device to determine remotely an approximate location for said LD based on said obtained identifier data. 
     
     
         6 . A locating device ID′ for an asset location system, wherein said LD is associated with an asset and comprises a wireless communication unit for communicating with any of: an operations control centre ‘OCC’; one or more other LDs; and/or the mobile location tracking system, wherein the LD is configured to obtain identifier data from one or more fixed devices in a wireless communication network and to either:
 a) determine locally an approximate location for said LD based on said obtained identifier data; or 
 b) transmit said obtained identifier data to another device in the asset location system to enable said other device to determine remotely an approximate location for said LD based on said obtained identifier data.