Wireless Locating and Monitoring System

Abstract

A wireless tracking device including a positioning system for determining a location of the device and a processor connected to the positioning system. The wireless tracking device further including a wireless radio connected to the processor for transmitting the location of the device across a wireless area network. A vehicle monitoring system including a sensor, a microcontroller configured to receive a sensor input from the sensor and determine a vehicle condition data, and a wireless transmitter in communication with the microcontroller. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the vehicle condition data to a remote data network access point. A method of monitoring a vehicle including determining a status of the vehicle, locating an available wireless data network access point, and transmitting the status of the vehicle though the access point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 establishing a first wireless connection between a wireless device and a first wireless node of a data network;   receiving sensor input that is based on a physical condition of an object;   determining condition data based on the sensor input;   transmitting a portion of the condition data to the first wireless node over the first wireless connection;   establishing a second wireless connection between the wireless device and a second wireless node of the data network; and   transmitting a second portion of the condition data to the second wireless node over the second wireless connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection includes transmitting authentication information from the wireless device to at least one of the first wireless node and the second wireless node to authenticate the wireless device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection includes receiving an indication, from at least one of the first wireless node and the second wireless node that the at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection is available, without transmitting a signal to the at least one of the first wireless node and the second wireless node.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the sensor input includes wirelessly receiving the sensor input by the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the sensor input includes receiving the sensor input from the object coupled to the wireless device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving configuration data including one of account management information and destination data indicating a destination for the condition data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving the configuration data includes the wireless device receiving the configuration data wirelessly. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving the configuration data including the account management information includes receiving at least one of user authentication information and payment information associated with at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving the configuration data indicating the destination of the condition data includes receiving a selection of at least one of an email address, a website, and a cell phone as a destination for the condition data.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing response data for the object, responsive to at least a portion of the sensor input. 
     
     
         11 . An device comprising:
 a communication interface configured to establish a first wireless connection between the device and a first node of a data network, and establish a second wireless connection between the device and a second node of the data network;   a sensor interface configured to receive sensor input characterizing a physical condition of an object;   a processor configured to determine condition data based on the sensor input, wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit a portion of the condition data to the first node over the first wireless connection, and transmit a second portion of the condition data to the second node over the second wireless connection.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit authentication information to at least one of the first node and the second node to authenticate the device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive an indication, from at least one of the first node and the second node, that the at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection is available, without transmitting a signal to the at least one of the first node and the second node.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to receive configuration data including one of account management information and destination data indicating a destination for the condition data. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the configuration data wirelessly. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the account management information includes at least one of user authentication information and payment information associated with at least one of the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the destination data includes a selection of at least one of an email address, a website, and a cell phone as a destination for the condition data. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to provide response data for the object, responsive to at least a portion of the sensor input. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 an endpoint configured to couple with an intermediate node through a network;   a processing system configured to communicatively couple with the intermediate node over a wireless connection and execute computer executable instructions to receive sensor input characterizing a physical condition of an object and determine condition data based on the sensor input, wherein the processing system is configured to transmit the condition data to the intermediate node over the wireless connection, and wherein the endpoint is configured to monitor the object based on the condition data.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing system is configured to provide response data for the object, responsive to at least a portion of the sensor input.