Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset

Abstract

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 . A location method comprising:
 communicating data via an associated portable radio-frequency transceiver with at least two associated remote data communication devices operating under mutually distinct frequencies comprising a first communication frequency associated with a cellular communications system access point associated with an active communication session and a second communication frequency associated with an extraterrestrial data communication system;   receiving first location data specifying a location of the associated portable radio-frequency transceiver from a first of the remote data communication devices and determining second location data associated with a relative location of the associated portable radio-frequency transceiver to a second of the remote communication devices;   generating a location indicator corresponding to a physical location of the associated portable radio-frequency device determined by a combination of the first and second location data; and   generating a directional indicator corresponding to an orientation of the associated portable radio-frequency device in accordance with at least one of the mutually distinct frequencies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein location data specified by the cellular communication system includes data corresponding to a position of portable radio-frequency transceiver relative to at least one cell tower. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising communicating data associated with the extraterrestrial data communication system via the cellular communication system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising communicating status data corresponding to a status of the portable radio-frequency transceiver via the cellular system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising generating a visual indicator corresponding to the location indicator in conjunction with an associated map on an associated display. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating the location data in accordance with speed data corresponding to a speed of the portable radio-frequency transceiver.