U.S. patent application number 09/822188 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for tracking device and system for simulated combat and related civilian applications.
This patent application is currently assigned to RAFAEL - ARMAMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LTD.. Invention is credited to Dagani, Josef, Orlin, Eitan.
Application Number | 20010029011 09/822188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11074026 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010029011 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dagani, Josef ; et
al. |
October 11, 2001 |
Tracking device and system for simulated combat and related
civilian applications
Abstract
A tracking device, a related combat simulator, and methods for
their use. The tracking device comprises a SPS receiver, a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communications card, a combat simulation device interface, and a
control unit for receiving location data from the SPS receiver, for
transmitting the location data via the communications interface,
and for exchanging combat simulation data between the combat
simulation device interface and the communications interface. The
combat simulator includes a control center for controlling several
tracking devices. For civilian applications, the combat simulation
device interface is replaced with an alarm button.
Inventors: |
Dagani, Josef; (Givatayim,
IL) ; Orlin, Eitan; (Haifa, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DR. MARK FRIEDMAN LTD.
c/o ANTHONY CASTORINA
SUITE 207
2001 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
RAFAEL - ARMAMENT DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY LTD.
|
Family ID: |
11074026 |
Appl. No.: |
09/822188 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
434/11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 3/2655
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
434/11 |
International
Class: |
F41A 033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 5, 2000 |
IL |
135493 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tracking device, comprising: (a) a SPS receiver; (b) a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communications card; (c) a combat simulation device interface; and
(d) a control unit for receiving location data from said SPS
receiver, for transmitting said location data via said
communications interface, and for exchanging combat simulation data
between said combat simulation device interface and said
communications interface.
2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said communications
interface is a PCMCIA interface.
3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said communications
interface is a serial interface.
4. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said communications card
operates according to a communications protocol selected from the
group consisting of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
5. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising: (e) a
transceiver, operationally connected to said communications
interface.
6. The tracking device of claim 1, further comprising: (e) a
personal sensor, said control unit being operative to receive
personal status data from said personal sensor and to transmit said
personal status data via said communication interface.
7. The tracking device of claim 6, wherein said personal sensor is
selected from the group consisting of pulse rate sensors and
thermometers.
8. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said control unit is
operative to compress data to be transmitted via said
communications interface and to decompress data received via said
communications interface.
9. The tracking device of claim 1 further comprising: (e) an alarm
button for activating a transmission of an alarm signal via said
communications interface, said alarm signal including at least a
portion of said location data.
10. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said control unit
includes a memory for storing at least a portion of said data.
11. A combat simulation system comprising: (a) a control center
including: (i) a control center communications interface for
reversibly mounting therein a control center communications card
that operates according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a
control center transceiver, operationally connected to said control
center communications interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking
devices, each said tracking device including: (i) a combat
simulation device interface, (ii) a SPS receiver, (iii) a tracking
device communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
tracking device communications card that operates according to said
communications protocol, (iv) a tracking device transceiver,
operationally connected to said tracking device communications
interface, for transmitting transmitted signals to said control
center and receiving received signals from said control center via
said control center transceiver, and (v) a control unit for: (A)
receiving location data from said SPS receiver, (B) transmitting
said location data to said control center via said tracking device
transceiver and said control center transceiver, and (C) exchanging
combat simulation data between said combat simulation device
interface and said control center, via said tracking device
transceiver and said control center transceiver, said data being
transmitted and received by said transceivers as said signals.
12. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein said
communications interfaces are PCMCIA interfaces.
13. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein said
communications interfaces are serial interfaces.
14. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein said
communications protocol is selected from the group consisting of
CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
15. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein each said
tracking device further includes: (vi) a personal sensor, said
control unit being operative to receive personal status data from
said personal sensor and to transmit said personal data to said
control center via said tracking device transceiver and said
control center transceiver.
16. The combat simulation system of claim 15, wherein said personal
sensor is selected from the group consisting of pulse rate sensors
and thermometers.
17. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein said control
unit of each said tracking device is operative to compress said
data that are transmitted to said control center to form said
transmitted signals and to decompress said received signals to form
said data that are received from said control center.
18. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein each said
tracking device further includes: (vi) an alarm button for
activating a transmission of an alarm signal from said tracking
device transceiver to said control center via said control center
transceiver, said control unit and said tracker device transceiver
being operative to include at least a portion of said location data
in said alarm signal.
19. The combat simulation system of claim 11, wherein each said
control unit includes a memory for storing at least a portion of
said data.
20. A tracking device, comprising: (a) a SPS receiver; (b) a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communication card; (c) a personal sensor; and (d) a control unit
for receiving location data from said SPS unit, for receiving
personal status data from said personal sensor, and for
transmitting said data via said communications interface.
21. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein said communications
interface is a PCMCIA interface.
22. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein said communications
interface is a serial interface.
23. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein said communications
card operates according to a communications protocol selected from
the group consisting of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
24. The tracking device of claim 20, further comprising: (e) a
transceiver, operationally connected to said communications
interface.
25. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein said personal sensor
is selected from the group consisting of pulse rate sensors and
thermometers.
26. The tracking device of claim 20, wherein said control unit is
operative to compress said data prior to said transmission of said
data.
27. The tracking device of claim 20, further comprising: (e) an
alarm button for activating a transmission of an alarm signal via
said communications interface, said alarm signal including at least
a portion of said location data.
28. A tracking device, comprising: (a) a SPS receiver; (b) a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communication card; (c) an alarm button for activating a
transmission of an alarm signal via said communications interface;
and (d) a control unit for receiving location data from said SPS
unit, for transmitting said data via said communications interface,
and for including at least a portion of said location data in said
alarm signal.
29. The tracking device of claim 28, wherein said communications
interface is a PCMCIA interface.
30. The tracking device of claim 28, wherein said communications
interface is a serial interface.
31. The tracking device of claim 28, wherein said communications
card operates according to a communications protocol selected from
the group consisting of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
32. The tracking device of claim 28, further comprising: (e) a
transceiver, operationally connected to said communications
interface.
33. A personal tracking system comprising: (a) a control center
including: (i) a control center communications interface for
reversibly mounting therein a control center communications card
that operates according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a
receiver, operationally connected to said control center
communications interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking devices,
each said tracking device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a
tracking device communications interface for reversibly mounting
therein a tracking device communications card that operates
according to said communications protocol, (iii) a personal sensor;
(iv) a transmitter, operationally connected to said tracking device
communications interface, for transmitting signals to said control
center via said receiver, and (v) a control unit for: (A) receiving
location data from said SPS receiver, (B) receiving personal status
data from said personal sensor, and (C) transmitting said data to
said control center via said transmitter and said receiver, said
data being transmitted by said transmitter and received by said
receiver as said signals.
34. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein said
communications interfaces are PCMCIA interfaces.
35. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein said
communications interfaces are serial interfaces.
36. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein said
communications protocol is selected from the group consisting of
CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
37. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein said personal
sensor is selected from the group consisting of pulse rate sensors
and thermometers.
38. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein said control
unit of each said tracking device is operative to compress said
data to form said signals.
39. The personal tracking system of claim 33, wherein each said
tracking device further includes: (vi) an alarm button for
activating a transmission of an alarm signal from said transmitter
to said control center via said receiver, said control unit and
said transmitter being operative to include at least a portion of
said location data in said alarm signal.
40. A personal tracking system comprising: (a) a control center
including: (i) a control center communications interface for
reversibly mounting therein a control center communications card
that operates according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a
receiver, operationally connected to said control center
communications interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking devices,
each said tracking device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a
tracking device communications interface for reversibly mounting
therein a tracking device communications card that operates
according to said communications protocol, (iii) a transmitter,
operationally connected to said tracking device communications
interface, for transmitting signals to said control center via said
receiver, one of said signals being an alarm signal, (iv) an alarm
button for activating a transmission of said alarm signal, and (v)
a control unit for receiving location data from said SPS receiver,
for transmitting said data to said control center via said
transmitter and said receiver, said data being transmitted by said
transmitter and received by said receiver as said signals, and for
including at least a portion of said location data in said alarm
signal.
41. The personal tracking system of claim 40, wherein said
communications interfaces are PCMCIA interfaces.
42. The personal tracking system of claim 40, wherein said
communications interfaces are serial interfaces.
43. The personal tracking system of claim 40, wherein said
communications protocol is selected from the group consisting of
CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
44. The personal tracking system of claim 40, wherein said control
unit of each said tracking device is operative to compress said
data to form said signals.
45. A method of simulating combat between an aggressor participant
and a defender participant, comprising the steps of: (a) providing
each participant with a tracking device including: (i) a SPS
receiver; and (ii) a communications interface for reversibly
mounting therein a communications card, both said communications
cards operating according to a common communications protocol; (b)
providing each participant with a combat simulation device
operationally coupled to said tracking device of said each
participant; (c) providing a control center for coordinating the
simulated combat; (d) simulating an attack by the aggressor
participant against the defender participant, using respective said
combat simulation devices, said simulating including the steps of:
(i) for each participant, determining a location of said each
participant, using said respective SPS receiver, and (ii) for each
participant, transmitting data related to said attack to said
control center via said respective communications interface, said
data of each said participant including said respective
location.
46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of: (e) for
each participant, mounting a respective said communications card in
said communications interface, prior to said simulated attack.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein said communications protocol is
selected from the group consisting of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and
TETRA.
48. The method of claim 45, wherein said simulating further
includes the step of: (iii) for at least one of said participants,
including in said data a respective time of said simulated
attack.
49. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of: (e) for
each participant: (i) periodically determining said location of
said each participant, using said respective SPS receiver, (ii)
transmitting said location to said control center, and (iii) if
said location is an illegal location, transmitting a trespass
signal to said each participant, by said control center.
50. The method of claim 45, wherein each said tracking device
further includes: (iv) a memory and wherein said simulating further
includes the step of: (iii) recording respective said data in said
respective memory.
51. A method of monitoring a location and a condition of a subject,
comprising the steps of: (a) providing the subject with a tracking
device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a communications
interface for reversibly mounting therein a communications card,
and (iii) a condition sensor for sensing a value of a physiological
parameter of the subject; (b) providing a control center; (c)
periodically sensing said value, by said tracking device, using
said condition sensor; and (d) if said value is outside a
predetermined range: (i) determining the location of the subject,
by said tracking device, using said SPS receiver, and (ii)
transmitting, to said control center, by said tracking device, via
said communications interface, an indication of the location and of
said value.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein said communications card
operates according to a protocol selected from the group consisting
of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
53. The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of: (e)
mounting said communications card in said communications interface,
prior to said providing of the subject with said tracking
device.
54. A method of monitoring a location of a subject, comprising the
steps of: (a) providing the subject with a tracking device
including: (i) a SPS receiver, and (ii) a communications interface
for reversibly mounting therein a communications card; (b)
providing a control center; and (c) activating said tracking
device, by the subject, to: (i) determine the location of the
subject, using said SPS receiver, and (ii) transmit the location to
the control center, via said communications interface.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein said communications card
operates according to a protocol selected from the group consisting
of CDPD, GSM, CDMA and TETRA.
56. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of: (e)
mounting said communications card in said communications interface,
prior to said providing of the subject with said tracking device.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to tracking devices and
systems and, more particularly, to a tracking device, and a system
based on these devices, for monitoring the movements of subjects.
In military applications of the present invention, the subjects are
participants in simulated combat.
[0002] Modern armies use laser-based combat simulation devices for
training purposes, to preclude the expense and danger of using live
ammunition. For example, such devices are used in the U.S. Army's
MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System) 2000 and by the
U.S. Army's MILES 3 system. Each participant in a training exercise
that uses the MILES 2000 system is provided with a combat
simulation device that includes a simulated weapon and a target
sensor. The simulated weapon includes an infrared laser that is
fired by the participant, acting as an aggressor, at other
participants. The target sensor is an infrared sensor that
registers hits by laser beams of other participants. The lasers and
the target sensors are tuned so that the signals provided by the
target sensors are representative of the damage that real weapons
would inflict on real targets. Whenever a laser is fired, and
whenever a target sensor is hit, corresponding signals are
transmitted to a control center to provide the control center with
data relating to the simulated combat effectiveness of the
participants. Note that the participants may be individual soldiers
or combat vehicles or a mixture of both. In addition, whenever a
target sensor is hit, that target sensor activates an effects
simulation system on the target that produces a special effect
indicative of the hit. For example, an effects simulation system on
a tank may set off a pyrotechnic device.
[0003] One limitation of prior art systems such as MILES 2000 is
that the transceivers used by the participants and by the control
center are military transceivers that are specific to their
respective armies. This limits the interoperability of these
systems for joint training exercises of allied armies.
[0004] There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be
highly advantageous to have, a combat simulation system that allows
interoperability among several allied armies. As will be seen
below, such a system, suitably modified, would also have important
civilian applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a
tracking device, including: (a) a SPS receiver; (b) a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communications card; (c) a combat simulation device interface; and
(d) a control unit for receiving location data from the SPS
receiver, for transmitting the location data via the communications
interface, and for exchanging combat simulation data between the
combat simulation device interface and the communications
interface.
[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a
combat simulation system including: (a) a control center including:
(i) a control center communications interface for reversibly
mounting therein a control center communications card that operates
according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a control center
transceiver, operationally connected to the control center
communications interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking devices,
each tracking device including: (i) a combat simulation device
interface, (ii) a SPS receiver, (iii) a tracking device
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a tracking
device communications card that operates according to the
communications protocol, (iv) a tracking device transceiver,
operationally connected to the tracking device communications
interface, for transmitting transmitted signals to the control
center and receiving received signals from the control center via
the control center transceiver, and (v) a control unit for: (A)
receiving location data from the SPS receiver, (B) transmitting the
location data to the control center via the tracking device
transceiver and the control center transceiver, and (C) exchanging
combat simulation data between the combat simulation device
interface and the control center, via the tracking device
transceiver and the control center transceiver, the data being
transmitted and received by the transceivers as the signals.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a
tracking device, including: (a)a SPS receiver; (b)a communications
interface for reversibly mounting therein a communication card; (c)
a personal sensor; and (d) a control unit for receiving location
data from the SPS unit, for receiving personal status data from the
personal sensor, and for transmitting the data via the
communications interface.
[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a
tracking device, including: (a) a SPS receiver; (b) a
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a
communication card; (c) an alarm button for activating a
transmission of an alarm signal via the communications interface;
and (d) a control unit for receiving location data from the SPS
unit, for transmitting the data via the communications interface,
and for including at least a portion of the location data in the
alarm signal.
[0009] According to the present invention there is provided a
personal tracking system including: (a) a control center including:
(i) a control center communications interface for reversibly
mounting therein a control center communications card that operates
according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a receiver,
operationally connected to the control center communications
interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking devices, each tracking
device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a tracking device
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a tracking
device communications card that operates according to the
communications protocol, (iii) a personal sensor; (iv) a
transmitter, operationally connected to the tracking device
communications interface, for transmitting signals to the control
center via the receiver, and (v) a control unit for: (A) receiving
location data from the SPS receiver, (B) receiving personal status
data from the personal sensor, and (C) transmitting the data to the
control center via the transmitter and the receiver, the data being
transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver as the
signals.
[0010] According to the present invention there is provided a
personal tracking system including: (a) a control center including:
(i) a control center communications interface for reversibly
mounting therein a control center communications card that operates
according to a communications protocol, and (ii) a receiver,
operationally connected to the control center communications
interface; and (b) a plurality of tracking devices, each tracking
device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a tracking device
communications interface for reversibly mounting therein a tracking
device communications card that operates according to the
communications protocol, (iii) a transmitter, operationally
connected to the tracking device communications interface, for
transmitting signals to the control center via the receiver, one of
the signals being an alarm signal, (iv) an alarm button for
activating a transmission of the alarm signal, and (v) a control
unit for receiving location data from the SPS receiver, for
transmitting the data to the control center via the transmitter and
the receiver, the data being transmitted by the transmitter and
received by the receiver as the signals, and for including at least
a portion of the location data in the alarm signal.
[0011] According to the present invention there is provided a
method of simulating combat between an aggressor participant and a
defender participant, including the steps of: (a) providing each
participant with a tracking device including: (i) a SPS receiver;
and (ii) a communications interface for reversibly mounting therein
a communications card, both the communications cards operating
according to a common communications protocol; (b) providing each
participant with a combat simulation device operationally coupled
to the tracking device of the each participant; (c) providing a
control center for coordinating the simulated combat; (d)
simulating an attack by the aggressor participant against the
defender participant, using respective the combat simulation
devices, the simulating including the steps of: (i) for each
participant, determining a location of the each participant, using
the respective SPS receiver, and (ii) for each participant,
transmitting data related to the attack to the control center via
the respective communications interface, the data of each
participant including the respective location.
[0012] According to the present invention there is provided a
method of monitoring a location and a condition of a subject,
including the steps of: (a) providing the subject with a tracking
device including: (i) a SPS receiver, (ii) a communications
interface for reversibly mounting therein a communications card,
and (iii) a condition sensor for sensing a value of a physiological
parameter of the subject; (b) providing a control center; (c)
periodically sensing the value, by the tracking device, using the
condition sensor; and (d) if the value is outside a predetermined
range: (i) determining the location of the subject, by the tracking
device, using the SPS receiver, and (ii) transmitting, to the
control center, by the tracking device, via the communications
interface, an indication of the location and of the value.
[0013] According to the present invention there is provided a
method of monitoring a location of a subject, including the steps
of: (a) providing the subject with a tracking device including: (i)
a SPS receiver, and (ii) a communications interface for reversibly
mounting therein a communications card; (b) providing a control
center; and (c) activating the tracking device, by the subject, to:
(i) determine the location of the subject, using the SPS receiver,
and (ii) transmit the location to the control center, via the
communications interface.
[0014] The tracking devices and the control center of the present
invention provides the desired interoperability by relying on
civilian communications networks for communicating with each other.
A military tracking device of the present invention includes an
interface to a combat simulation device, a Satellite Positioning
System (SPS) receiver for determining the participants location on
demand, and a communications unit. The communications unit includes
a transceiver, a communications card that enables the
communications unit to operate according to a local civilian
communications protocol, and an interface into which the
communications card is reversibly inserted. Typically, the
interface to the communications card is either a PCMCIA interface
or a serial (e.g., RS232) interface. Thus, the present invention is
modular: the communications interface allows the use of different
communications cards in different geographical locations. For
example, a preferred embodiment of the tracking device of the
present invention includes communications cards that operate
according to the CDMA IS-95 protocol used for voice and data
cellular telephony in North America, the GSM protocol used for
cellular telephony in Europe and Asia (most preferably using the
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)), the CDPD protocol used for
mobile radio communications and cellular telephony in North America
and Israel, and the TETRA protocol used for mobile radio
communications in Europe. The control center is equipped similarly
with a transceiver, a communications card that enables the control
center to communicate with the tracking devices according to the
local civilian communications protocol via the corresponding local
civilian communications network, and a communications interface
into which the control center's communications card is reversibly
inserted. Each tracking device also includes a control unit for
receiving data from the SPS receiver and for exchanging data with
the communications interface.
[0015] When a combat simulation system of the present invention is
taken from one region that uses one civilian communications
protocol, to another region that uses a different civilian
communications protocol, for example from North America to Europe,
all that is needed to modify the system is to exchange the
communications cards of the old region for the communications cards
of the new region.
[0016] The preferred SPS receiver of the present invention is a GPS
receiver, although the scope of the present invention includes
other SPS receivers, for example GLONASS receivers.
[0017] When a participant acting as an aggressor fires its
simulated weapon, or when the target sensor of a participant senses
a hit by an aggressor's laser beam, signals indicative of these
events are transmitted by the transceivers of the respective
tracking devices to the control center, via the local civilian
communications network and the control center transceiver. These
signals include geographical coordinates and time stamps obtained
from the SPS receivers of the respective tracking devices. The
control center transmits control signals to the participants as
needed, using its own transceiver, also via the local civilian
communications network and the participants' transceivers. Examples
of these control signals include an indication to a participant
that it has fired its laser as often as allowed and so is "out of
ammunition", and an indication to a participant that it has
suffered severe enough hits to put it out of action. "Exchange" of
such signals between a tracking device and the control center is
understood herein to refer both to the transmission of signals from
the tracking device to the control center, with receipt of the
signals by the control center, and the transmission of signals from
the control center to the tracking device, with receipt of the
signals by the tracking device. Similarly, the "exchange" of data
between the control unit of a tracking device and the
communications interface of the tracking device is understood
herein to refer both to the formatting of data by the control unit
for transmission to the communication interface and the
transmission of these data to the communication interface for
transmission by the transceiver as transmitted signals according to
the relevant communications protocol, and to the reception of data
by the control unit from the communications interface as the
communications interface receives these data consequent to the
receipt of corresponding signals by the transceiver.
[0018] Preferably, the formatting of data for transmission by the
control unit includes compression of the data. Correspondingly, the
receipt of data by the control unit from the communications
interface includes decompression of the received data.
[0019] Periodically, each tracking unit determines its location,
using the SPS receiver, independent of any activity of the combat
simulation device, and transmits that location to the control
center. This allows the control center to tell when a participant
enters an area that is off-limits (illegal) and to transmit a
corresponding signal to the trespassing participant.
[0020] Preferably, a tracking device of the present invention for
personal use includes a personal sensor, such as a pulse rate
sensor or a thermometer, for monitoring a physiological status of
the participant. When data received by the control unit from the
personal sensor indicate that the value of the corresponding
physiological parameter of the participant is outside the normal
range of that parameter, the control unit transmits a corresponding
warning signal to the control center. This warning signal includes
the location of the participant, as determined using the SPS
receiver. Similarly, a preferred embodiment of the tracking device
of the present invention includes an alarm button that allows the
participant itself to activate the transmission of a similar alarm
when the participant perceives itself to be in danger.
[0021] Preferably, the control unit of a tracking device of the
present invention includes a memory for storing copies of the
simulated combat event data that are transmitted to the control
center and that are received from the control center.
[0022] A civilian tracking device of the present invention lacks an
interface to a combat simulation device. In all other respects, the
civilian tracking device of the present invention is identical to
the military tracking device of the present invention, and the
civilian control center of the present invention is identical to
the military control center of the present invention. Those skilled
in the art will be able to envision many civilian applications of
the present invention. These include:
[0023] locating lost children in an amusement park, with the
control center being located at the amusement park office. Each
visitor to the amusement park is provided with a vest, belt or
holster that contains a civilian tracking device of the present
invention.
[0024] monitoring the condition of livestock on the open range,
with the control center being located at ranch headquarters. Each
animal is provided with a harness that contains a civilian tracking
device of the present invention.
[0025] Because the person or animal who is provided with the
civilian tracking device of the present invention is not competing
with another person or animal, this person or animal is referred to
herein as a "subject" rather than a "participant".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The invention is herein described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a tracking device of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a combat simulation
system of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The present invention is of a tracking device, and an
associated tracking system, which can be used to track the
locations and conditions of subjects such as people, vehicles and
livestock. Specifically, in a military application thereof, the
present invention can be used to enhance simulated combat, and in a
civilian application thereof, the present invention can be used to
locate missing persons and animals and to identify and locate
persons and animals in distress.
[0030] The principles and operation of a tracking device and system
according to the present invention may be better understood with
reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. More
specifically, the present invention is described below with
reference to its primary military application, simulated combat. It
will be clear to those skilled in the art how to apply the
principles of the present invention to its civilian
applications.
[0031] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic block
diagram of a tracking device 10 of the present invention. The heart
of tracking device 10 is a control unit 28. Operationally connected
to control unit 28 are a SPS receiver 12 (specifically, a GPS
receiver), an interface 14 to a combat simulation device 16
(specifically a MILES 2000), an interface 18 to a communications
card 20, a transceiver 22, a physiological sensor 30, a speaker 31,
an alarm button 32 and a power supply 36. Interface 18 is such that
communications card 20 may be removed therefrom and replaced with a
different communications card 20. Usually, tracking device 10 comes
with several communications cards 20, each one specific to a
different communications protocol. Four such communications cards
20 are shown in FIG. 1: a communications card 20 that operates
according to the CDPD protocol, a communications card 20 that
operates according to the CDMA I-95 protocol, a communications card
20 that operates according to the GSM protocol and a communications
card 20 that operates according to the TETRA protocol.
Communications card 20 that operates according to the GSM protocol
is shown mounted in interface 18. Suitable commercially available
communications cards 20 include the AirCard 210 series, available
from Sierra Wireless Inc. If Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Most preferably, interface 14, like interface 18, is such that
combat simulation device 16 may be removed therefrom and replaced
with a different combat simulation device.
[0032] Most preferably, GPS receiver 12 is a differential GPS
receiver.
[0033] Transceiver 22 includes both transmit functionality 24 and
receive functionality 26. Transceiver 22 operates, under the
control of control unit 28 and communications card 20, to transmit
data provided by control unit 28 as signals according to the
specific communications protocol of communications card 20, and to
receive signals, according to the specific communications protocol
of, that are interpreted as input data for control unit 28.
[0034] Control unit 28 exchanges combat simulation data with combat
simulation device 16 via interface 14. Control unit 28 also
receives input data from GPS receiver 12, sensor 30 and alarm
button 32. The input data from GPS receiver 12 are data indicating
the location of tracking device 10. Because the simultaneous
equations solved by GPS receiver 12 include, as one of the unknowns
thereof, the bias of the internal clock of GPS receiver 12 relative
to the time kept by the GPS system, the input data from GPS
receiver 12 also include a timestamp indicating the time when
tracking device 10 was determined to be at that location. The input
data from sensor 30 are values of a physiological parameter of a
user of tracking device 10. Preferred examples of sensor 30 include
a pulse rate sensor and a thermometer. The input datum from alarm
button 32 is an activation signal, as described below.
[0035] Control unit 28 also includes a memory 34 for recording
simulated combat events, as illustrated below.
[0036] Control unit 28 and transceiver 22 are powered by a power
module 36. Power module 36 includes two rechargeable batteries 38
and 39, and an interface 40 to a 12 volt vehicular DC power supply.
Primary battery 38 is replaceable ,and powers tracking device 10
during normal use. Secondary battery 39 is installed permanently in
power module 36 and is kept charged by primary battery 38. The main
function of secondary battery 39 is to preserve the data stored in
memory 34 while tracking device 10 is turned off.
[0037] Tracking device 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, can be used by
a participant who is either a person or a vehicle. When mounted on
a vehicle, tracking device 10 obtains power via interface 40. When
carried by a person, tracking device 10 obtains power from battery
38. Physiological sensor 30 is specific to a participant who is a
person; but it will be appreciated that a sensor appropriate to a
vehicle could be substituted for physiological sensor 30.
[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates, schematically, a combat simulation
system of the present invention. The combat simulation system
includes, in addition to a plurality of tracking devices 10, a
control center 50 that exchanges signals with tracking devices 10.
Control center 50 includes an interface 52 to a communications
card. Like interface 18, interface 52 is such that a communications
card may be removed therefrom and replaced with a different
communications card. Indeed, the communications cards that are
mounted reversibly in interface 52 is identical to the
communications cards that are mounted reversibly in interfaces 18
of tracking devices 10. Therefore, the communications card in FIG.
2 is designated by the same reference numeral 20 as is used to
designate the communications card of tracking device 10 in FIG. 1.
Operationally connected to interface 52 is a transceiver 54 that
includes both transmit functionality 56 and receive functionality
58. Note that only the components of control center 50 that are
germane to an explanation of the present invention are depicted in
FIG. 2. For example, control center 50 necessarily includes a
control unit and a power supply, neither of which are shown in FIG.
2.
[0039] Most preferably, if communication between control center 50
and tracking devices 10 is via a civilian cellular telephony
network, control center 50 also includes a landline connecting
interface 52 to the civilian network. This reduces the wireless
traffic burden on the civilian network consequent to the operation
of the present invention.
[0040] Also shown in FIG. 2 are two participants 42 in simulated
combat. Each participant 42 is equipped with a respective tracking
device 10. Some components of tracking devices 10 are illustrated
separately: simulated weapon 44, a part of combat simulation device
16 of tracking device 10a; target sensor 46, a part of combat
simulation device 16 of tracking device 10b; and physiological
sensor 30 of tracking device 10b. Sensor 30 is a pulse rate sensor,
mounted in close proximity to the left femoral pulse of participant
42b. Tracking devices 10a and 10b communicate with control center
50 via base transceiver stations (BTSs) 60 of a cellular telephony
network that operates according to the GSM communications protocol.
Consequently, communications cards 20 of tracking devices 10a and
10b and of control center 50 all operate according to the GSM
communications protocol.
[0041] A secondary function of secondary battery 39 of tracking
device 10 is to power the transmission of a "shutoff" message from
tracking device 10 to control center 50 when tracking device 10 is
turned off.
[0042] Also shown in FIG. 2 are two satellites 62 of the GPS
constellation. GPS receivers 12 of tracking devices 10 determine
their locations based on signals received from satellites 62. If
GPS receivers 12 are differential receivers, control center 50
sends differential correction data to tracking devices 10, using a
standard protocol such as the NEMA protocol. GPS receivers 12 use
this differential correction data, as is well-known in the art, to
account for the .apprxeq.50 meter error that is included by the
U.S. Department of Defense in the civilian signals transmitted by
satellites 62, so that the locations determined by GPS receivers 12
are accurate to within about one meter.
[0043] In the specific scenario illustrated in FIG. 2, participant
42a fires simulated weapon 44 at participant 42b. A laser beam 48
from simulated weapon 44 hits target sensor 46. Both the firing of
simulated weapon 44 and the sensing by target sensor 46 of the
impact thereon of laser beam 48 are simulated combat events.
Control unit 28 of tracking device 10a formulates a message that
embodies the event of the firing of simulated weapon 44. This
message includes the geographical coordinates of participant 42a
and a time stamp, both obtained from GPS receiver 12 of tracking
device 10a. Control unit 28 of tracking device 10a stores this
message in memory 34 of tracking device 10a and also transmits this
message to control center 50. Similarly, control unit 28 of
tracking device 10b formulates a message that embodies the event of
the sensing by target sensor 46 of the impact thereon of laser beam
48. This message includes the geographical coordinates of
participant 42b and a time stamp, both obtained from GPS receiver
12 of tracking device 10b. Control unit 28 of tracking device 10b
stores this message in memory 34 of tracking device 10b and also
transmits this message to control center 50.
[0044] In response to the messages received from participants 42,
control center 50 sends messages of its own to participants 42.
Control center 50 sends a message to participant 42b, via tracking
device 10b, that, because of the direct hit of laser beam 48 on
target sensor 46, participant 42b is "dead" and must stop
participating. Meanwhile, participant 42a has fired simulated
weapon 44 a number of times equal to the number of rounds of
ammunition that participant 42a would carry into combat. Therefore,
control center 50 sends a message, to tracking device 10a and to
participant 42a, that disables simulated weapon 44 and that informs
participant 42a that participant 42a is "out of ammunition". These
two messages from control center 50 also are recorded in memories
34 of their respective tracking devices 10.
[0045] Periodically, tracking devices 10a and 10b send tracking
messages to control center 50. A tracking message includes
geographical coordinates and a timestamp from GPS receiver 12, and
also a value of a physiological parameter from sensor 30. If the
geographical coordinates of a participant 42 indicates that that
participant 42 is in an illegal location, control center 50 sends
that participant 42 a message, via speaker 31, indicating that that
participant 42 has trespassed and must return to a legal location.
If the received value of the physiological parameter of a
participant 42 is outside a predetermined normal range, indicating
that that participant is in distress, control center 50 initiates
emergency action. A distress message also may be initiated by a
participant 42, by pushing alarm button 32. Pushing alarm button 32
activates the transmission of a distress message from tracking
device 10 to control center 50. Like the routine tracking messages,
this distress message includes geographical coordinates and a
timestamp from GPS receiver 12. Upon receipt of a distress message,
control center 50 initiates emergency action.
[0046] In addition to including the values of the physiological
parameter in the tracking messages, control unit 28 also monitors
these values itself. If the values start to fall outside the
predetermined normal range, control unit 28 sounds an alarm, using
speaker 31, to indicate to participant 42 that participant 42 must
take corrective action.
[0047] GPS receiver 12 must have a clear line of sight to at least
four satellites 62 in order to obtain a location fix. In cluttered
environments, GPS receiver 12 may have a clear line of sight to
only three or fewer satellites 62. In such a case, control unit 28
uses one of several known methods for using signals from both
satellites 62 and BTSs 60 to obtain a location fix. See for example
U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,944 to Krasner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,124 to
Sheynblatt, International Patent Application WO99/61934 to Camp,
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,324 to Watters et al. All four of these
documents are incorporated by reference for all purposes as if
fully set forth herein.
[0048] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many
variations, modifications and other applications of the invention
may be made.
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