This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/090,665 filed Jun. 4, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,928

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The inventions described herein relate to the field of prisoner or parolee tracking and warning systems and methods, and more specifically, to comprehensive prisoner or parolee tracking systems and methods using the Global Positioning System (“GPS”) to track the movements of prisoners/parolees and an expert system to continually learn, distinguish and report normal and abnormal or prohibited behavior by prisoners/parolees. Additional prisoner/parolee sensors are used to detect and report substance abuse or other alarming or threatening situations.

The control and/or confinement of prisoners/parolees is a complex and expensive problem. The ever increasing rate of various crimes requires incarceration of thousands of persons every year in the United States. Such detentions are extremely costly, requiring elaborate prison systems with attendant physical facilities and large staffs to monitor prisoner activities and to care for prisoners. Yet many crimes for which people are incarcerated do not necessarily represent a severe threat to society. Examples include selected, non-violent or minor offenses or misdemeanors, such as petty theft, shoplifting, etc. In addition, many prisoners, having served portions of prescribed sentences, could possibly be paroled if effective prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, and learning systems and methods were available to enable surveillance and continual detecting and learning of their activities while on parole. By restricting the areas within which parolees may move and the times that they may spend traveling or may spend at specific locations, the possibility of repeat offenses may be minimized. As a result, valuable prison space may be reserved for more serious offenders.

There is an increasing interest in remote confinement monitoring systems and methods for monitoring prisoners or parolees. Such systems typically involve a type of house arrest or house detention. Various methods have been described in issued patents for determining whether or not a prisoner or parolee is at a specified location, such as at his house. Field Monitoring Devices (FMD) are sometimes used to record information concerning prisoner or parolee presence. This information is typically transmitted to a centralized control center. Various forms of electronic monitoring technology and identification tags have been previously described for identifying prisoners or parolees and monitoring their general status or behavior. Voice verification methods have been described or taught for identifying particular prisoners or parolees to insure their presence at specified location. Secured straps and tamper-indicating fastening mechanisms that generate alarms if removal is attempted have been disclosed for attaching tags or other identification mechanisms to prisoners or parolees.

However, none of these prior art house arrest or house incarceration systems and methods are known to enable tracking, monitoring and learning of prisoners or parolees and their respective movement or behavior over extended areas nor do they verify travel routes, lengths of times given at locations, lengths of time traveling, avoidance of prohibited areas, and deviations from normal or expected behavior. Also, prior art systems are not capable of actively learning and adapting to a prisoner's or parolee's permissible behavior patterns and reporting deviations from those permissible patterns to a prisoner/parolee control center. Furthermore, the prior art systems do not utilize expert systems or algorithms (i.e. including but not limited to fuzzy logic, neural networks, reinforcement learning, etc.) in providing the capabilities of learning behavior, movement, or patterns of a prisoner or parolee, or of reinforcing acceptable prisoner or parolee behavior by rewarding the prisoner or parolee for proper activities. In addition, prior art prisoner tracking, monitoring, and learning systems have not fully integrated in combination together the capabilities of modem GPS technology, electronic monitoring for detecting substance abuse, and other sensors to detect unusual or suspicious events in the vicinity of prisoners or parolees being tracked and monitored.

Various house arrest, house incarceration and remote confinement systems and methods including systems with electronic monitoring, restraining mechanism, and tamper free security monitoring devices attached to prisoners or parolees are described in the following documents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,377; 4,918,425; 4,918,432; 4,924,211; 4,943,885; 4,952,913; 4,952,928; 4,980,671; 4,999,613; 5,023,901; 5,032,823; 5,075,670; 5,103,474; 5,117,222; 5,146,207; 5,170,426; 5,182,543; 5,204,670; 5,206,897; 5,218,344; 5,255,306; 5,266,944; 5,298,884: 5,341,126; 5,369,394; 5,448,221; 5,455,851; 5,461,390; and 5,471,197.

In addition many patents have been issued for various applications of GPS for locating and tracking objects and for navigation purpose. Various configurations of GPS-based tracking and communication systems and methods are described in the following documents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference: The Navstar Global Positioning System by Tom Logsdon, Van Nostrand and Reinhold, New York (1992), ISBN 0-422-01040-0; GPS Satellite Surveying by Alfred Leick, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1990), ISBN 0-471-81990-05; GPS—A Guide to the Next Utility by Jeff Hurn, Trimble Navigation, Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif. (1989); Differential GPS Explained by Jeff Hurn, Trimble Navigation Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif. (1993); and U.S. Pat. Nos: 5,182,566; 5,187,805; 5,202,829; 5,223,844; 5,225,842; 5,323,322; 5,243,652; 5,345,244; 5,359,332; 5,379,244; 5,382,958; 5,389,934; 5,390,125; 5,396,540; 5,408,238; 5,414,432; 5,418,537; 5,422,813; 5422,816; 5,430,656; and 5,434,787.

Furthermore, expert systems (i.e. including but not limited to fuzzy logic, neural networks, reinforcement learning, etc.) are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, as reflected in the following publications, each of which is incorporated by reference herein: Harmon, Paul and King, David,

Artificial Intelligence in Business—Expert Systems,

John Wiley & Sons, New York (1985), ISBN 0-471-81554-3; Gottinger, H. and Weimann, H.,

Artificial Intelligence—a tool for industry and management,

Ellis Horwood, New York (1990), ISBN 0-13-048372-9; Mirzai, A. R.,

Artificial Intelligence—Concepts and applications in engineering,

Chapman and Hall, New York (1990), ISBN 0-412-37900-7; Bourbakis, N.,

Artificial Intelligence Methods and Applications,

World Scientific, New Jersey (1992), ISBN 981-02-1057-4; Schalkoff, R.,

Artificial Intelligence: An Engineering Approach,

McGraw-Hill, New York (1990), ISBN 0-070-55084-0; Frenzel Jr., L.,

Crash Course in Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems,

Howard W. Sams & Co., Indianapolis, Ind. (1987), ISBN 0-672-22443-7. However, expert systems, fuzzy logic, neural networks, reinforcement learning, etc. do not appear to have been used or applied in the prisoner behavior tracking, monitoring, and learning areas.

Various techniques have also been disclosed and implemented for monitoring vital signs of persons, including breath analyzers, sweat analyzers, and heart rate monitors. However, a totally integrated prisoner/parolee monitoring and tracking system and method that makes optimum use of location, travel, and GPS tracking, physical monitoring, security system technology, and expert systems and methods is not disclosed in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of these inventions to provide new and useful prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning and reinforcing systems and methods that permit tracking the movements of prisoners/parolees, while at the same time learning, updating and reporting unusual or prohibited travel of a prisoner/parolee.

It is a further object of these inventions to provide prisoner or parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that make use of the existing Global Positioning System (“GPS”) to permit accurate determination of the location of individual prisoners/parolees.

Another object of these inventions is to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that permit definition of specific authorized locations or destinations for each prisoner/parolee.

It is yet another object of these inventions to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that permit comparison of travel times of a prisoner/parolee between locations with predetermined or predicted travel times to ensure that the prisoner/parolee proceeds directly between prescribed points in his or her travels.

It is another object of these inventions to provide predetermined time durations specifying a maximum permitted time that a prisoner/parolee may stay at a specific location.

It is yet another object of these inventions to permit definition of areas to which the prisoner/parolee may travel to or through to the exclusion of other areas, and to reward extended periods of good behavior with expanded areas and durations of authorized travel.

Still a further object of these inventions is to provide the above described capabilities within the context of an expert system that is capable of learning individual prisoner/parolee behavior patterns and making notes of and/or generating alarm signals only when those patterns are violated in a suspicious manner, and further, that penalizes improper behavior by restricting areas and periods of travel.

It is another object of these inventions to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that make use of reinforcement learning whereby prisoners/parolees are rewarded for conformance to specified behavior patterns.

It is still a further object of these inventions to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that permit simultaneous tracking of a multitude of prisoners/parolees from a prisoner/parolee control center.

Yet a further object of these inventions is to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that permit dispatching of police or other law enforcement personnel when dangerous situations are detected that involve prisoners/parolees.

Still a further object of these inventions is to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that enable physical monitoring of prisoners/parolees including, for example, monitoring prisoner/parolee heart rate and chemical composition of prisoner/parolee perspiration to detect excited or agitated states of prisoners/parolees or the presence of intoxicating drugs, alcohol or other substances within the prisoner's/parolee's body system.

Still a further object of these inventions is to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that monitor sounds and audible signals generated by the prisoner/parolee or in the vicinity of the prisoner/parolee, and analyze those sounds for detection of dangerous situations such as gunshots.

Yet a further object of these inventions is to provide prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that permit transmission of spoken commands from a prisoner/parolee control center to individual prisoners/parolees directing them to return to prescribed locations or travel patterns, and to warn those prisoners/parolees that they have violated their predetermined movement, travel, or other conditions of parole.

Still a further object of these inventions is to provide warning to the general population within areas that may be threatened by individual prisoners or parolees that have violated their prescribed travel space or behavior restrictions.

Yet another object of these inventions is to provide prisoner tracking, monitoring, warning, and learning systems and methods that make use of prisoner sensor processing units that are securely attached to the prisoner in a manner that cannot be removed without generating warning signals.

Further objects of the invention are apparent from reviewing the summary of the invention, detailed description, and claims which are set forth below.

The above and other objects are achieved by a method of monitoring and learning a subject's behavior. A first file including reference behavior data defining several classes of individuals to be monitored is created and stored in a memory of a monitoring station computer. Included within that file is data relating to at least one class to which the subject belongs. A second file including behavior data defining the subject to be monitored is also created and stored in the monitoring station computer memory. The monitoring station computer is defined and programmed with data defining a set of allowed activities for each of the several classes of individuals to be monitored. The monitoring station computer is also defined and programmed with data defining a set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject to be monitored. These allowed activities include predefined routes and times of travel in a location remote from the monitoring station computer. A remote monitoring transmitter and receiver is attached to the subject. The receiver cooperates with a satellite global positioning system to determine the subject's current location as the subject moves about in the area located remote from the monitoring station computer. Data defining the subject's location at a specific time is periodically transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver to the monitoring station computer. The data transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter is analyzed by the computer by comparing the data defining the subject's current location and time with the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject. The computer determines if there are any variations from the allowed activities. A first alarm signal is generated defining any determined variation from the allowed activities. An expert system is used to further analyze the first alarm signal defining the determined variation from the allowed activities. This expert system is programmed to recognize a continuum of degrees of alarms based on a comparison of the determined variation, the behavior data defining the subject to be monitored, and the reference behavior data defining the class of individuals to which the subject belongs. The expert system also generates a second alarm signal defining a specific recommended course of action that is appropriate for the determined variation, the subject's specific behavior data, and the data defining the class of individuals to which the subject belongs. Hereafter, the phrase prisoners or parolees are used interchangeably and may just as easily be used for children, incompetent persons, or the aged.

Furthermore, the data defining the subject's current location and time, the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject, and the second alarm signal defining the recommended course of action are more frequently analyzed. Based on this more frequent analysis, it is determined whether the second alarm condition has changed by becoming more or less critical. If necessary, the second alarm condition is modified to reflect any determined change.

The reference behavior data defining several classes of individuals to be monitored includes but is not limited to criminal behavior data, criminal history and criminal record data, parole level information, data relating to a number of different types of crimes, data relating to a defined deviated behavior standard derived, and crime probability data that compares various crime types with various location types wherein a crime probability for each of the various crime types is determined and assigned for each of the various location types. The behavior data defining the subject to be monitored includes but is not limited to criminal behavior data, criminal history and criminal record data, parole level information, and data relating to types of crimes committed by the subject. The data defining a set of allowed activities for each of the several classes of individuals to be monitored includes but is not limited to permitted travel data, permitted location data, permitted location dwell time data, and permitted travel path data.

Also, the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver has an audible alarm. A signal is transmitted from the monitoring station computer to the monitoring transmitter and receiver attached to the subject. The signal activates the audible alarm to indicate to the subject that an alarm condition has been triggered. An expert system is operated to analyze the first and second alarm conditions and the data that generated the alarm conditions. The first and second data files are modified to reflect learned activities that either should or should not generate an alarm. The expert system learns behavior that unnecessarily generated an alarm. The behavior data defining the subject to be monitored and the data defining the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject to be monitored are accordingly modified so that the alarm is not generated in the future.

Periodic monitoring of the subject's behavior continues. After a predefined period without an alarm being generated, the data defining the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject to be monitored is modified to provide for an increased area and longer allowed time of travel. The increase area and longer time of travel is accordingly communicated to the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver attached to the subject. After an alarm is generated, the data defining the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject to be monitored is modified to provide for a decreased area and shorter time of travel. The decreased area and shorter allowed time of travel is accordingly communicated to the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver attached to the subject.

The remote monitoring transmitter and receiver attached to the subject is used to monitor a physical attribute of the subject. Data defining the monitored physical attribute of the subject is transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver to the monitoring station computer. The computer analyzes the data by comparing the data defining the subject's monitored location, time and physical attributes with the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject. The computer determines if there are any variations from these allowed activities. The physical attributes being monitored include but are not limited to speech, alcoholic levels, heart rate, breath and perspiration.

The above and other objects are also achieved by a system of monitoring and learning a subject's behavior. The system includes at least a monitoring station computer, a remote monitoring transmitter and receiver, and an expert system. The monitoring station computer creates and stores in its memory a first file including reference behavior data defining several classes of individuals to be monitored. Included within that file is data relating to at least one class to which the subject belongs. The monitoring station computer also creates and stores in its memory a second file including behavior data defining the subject to be monitored is also created and stored in the monitoring station computer memory. The monitoring station computer is defined and programmed with data defining a set of allowed activities for each of the several classes of individuals to be monitored. The monitoring station computer is also defined and programmed with data defining a set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject to be monitored. These allowed activities include predefined routes and times of travel in a location remote from the monitoring station computer. The remote monitoring transmitter and receiver is attached to the subject. The receiver cooperates with a satellite global positioning system to determine the subject's current location as the subject moves about in the area located remote from the monitoring station computer. Data defining the subject's location at a specific time is periodically transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver to the monitoring station computer. The data transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter is analyzed by the monitoring computer by comparing the data defining the subject's current location and time with the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject. The monitoring computer determines if there are any variations from the allowed activities. A first alarm signal is generated by the monitoring computer defining any determined variation from the allowed activities. The expert system is used to further analyze the first alarm signal defining the determined variation from the allowed activities. This expert system is programmed to recognize a continuum of degrees of alarms based on a comparison of the determined variation, the behavior data defining the subject to be monitored, and the reference behavior data defining the class of individuals to which the subject belongs. The expert system also generates a second alarm signal defining a specific recommended course of action that is appropriate for the determined variation, the subject's specific behavior data and the data defining the class of individuals to which the subject belongs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventions of this application are better understood in conjunction with the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The various hardware and software elements used to carry out the inventions are illustrated in the attached drawings in the form of block diagrams, flow charts, and other appropriate pictorial representations.

FIG. 1

is a block diagram of the overall prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, and learning algorithm herein disclosed.

FIG. 2

is a block diagram of the overall hardware system for tracking, monitoring, and learning prisoner/parolee behavior herein disclosed showing a hardware sub-system for prisoner/parolee behavior tracking and monitoring and a hardware sub-system for prisoner/parolee behavior learning.

FIG. 3

is a graphical representation of the overall prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, and learning systems and methods herein disclosed.

FIG. 4

is a diagram illustrating the principal elements of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit to be carried on the person of the prisoner or parolee.

FIG. 5

is a diagram illustrating the principal elements of the prisoner/parolee control center used to maintain databases and receive information from prisoners or parolees being tracked and monitored.

FIG. 6

is an illustration of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit including a drug detection device attached to a strap wherein the strap attaches the device to the prisoner or parolee being tracked and monitored.

FIG. 7

illustrates the attachment of a drug/substance detector to the prisoner/parolee drug detection device strap so that the detector is in contact with the skin of the prisoner/parolee being tracked and monitored.

FIG. 8

illustrates a more detailed cross-section of the drug/substance detector of FIG.

6

.

FIG. 9

is a general block diagram of the learning prisoner/parolee behavior aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 10

is a block diagram of a specific algorithm for learning individual prisoner/parolee behavior.

FIG. 11

is a modified version of block diagram of

FIG. 10

including use of an expert system (i.e. fuzzy logic, neural networks, reinforcement learning, etc.).

FIG. 12

is a block diagram for determining a prisoner/parolee violation and a corresponding parole level for an individual prisoner/parolee.

FIG. 13

is a prisoner/parolee information chart which outlines information assigned to prisoners/parolees and wherein prisoner/parolee parole levels and constraints are assigned to prisoners/parolees.

FIG. 14

is a chart showing prisoner/parolee parole level definitions.

FIG. 15

is a block diagram of an expert system algorithm that is used for determining whether deviated behavior constitutes a crime or violation.

FIG. 16

is an algorithm for learning an aggregate number of prisoners'/ parolees' behavior wherein data on a congregate of prisoners/parolees from the database are gathered and compiled and wherein the data are analyzed and sorted into various prisoner/parolee categories.

FIG. 17

is an algorithm for learning an aggregate number of prisoners'/ parolees' behavior that further includes the act of analyzing statistical information and providing learning information in each of the various prisoner/parolee categories using expert system (i.e. fuzzy logic, neural networks, reinforcement learning, etc.) algorithms for analyzing deviated behavior.

FIG. 18

is a block diagram of deviated behavior standard data that defines the deviated behavior standard for prisoners/parolees.

FIG. 19

is a directed graph illustrating permissible prisoner/parolee travel between designated locations.

FIG. 20

is a ring/sector map useful in the disclosed prisoner/parolee tracking and monitoring system and method to define permissible geographic areas in which or through which the prisoner or parolee may travel.

FIG. 21

illustrates a prisoner or parolee travel matrix corresponding to the graph of

FIG. 19

useful in defining approved destinations and locations of the prisoner or parolee being tracked and monitored.

FIG. 22

is a travel time matrix showing expected travel times for the prisoner or parolee being tracked and monitored between the various locations indicated in FIG.

19

.

FIG. 23

is a location dwell time matrix showing average or maximum times (or both) that a prisoner or parolee is permitted to spend at a given location.

FIG. 24

is a ring/sector time matrix recording permissible average or maximum (or both) time intervals that a prisoner or parolee may spend in individual ring/sector segments of FIG.

22

.

FIG. 25

is a prisoner or parolee monitor flow diagram illustrating top level logical flow of the prisoner/parolee tracking and monitoring systems and methods herein disclosed.

FIG. 26

is a general block diagram of the reinforcement learning algorithm of the prisoner/parolee behavior tracking or monitoring system.

FIG. 27

is a more specific block diagram of the reinforcement learning algorithm of the prisoner/parolee behavior tracking or monitoring system.

FIG. 28

is a block diagram of the parole agents and sub-agents used for the reinforcement learning algorithm of the prisoner/parolee behavior tracking or monitoring system.

FIG. 29

is a graph of location types against crime types for learning aggregate prisoner's/parolee's behavior algorithm.

The above figures are better understood in connection with the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to prisoner/parolee tracking, monitoring, and learning system and corresponding methods in accordance with the herein disclosed inventions.

FIG. 1

shows a general algorithm

10

for the present invention. The algorithm

10

starts at block

12

. At block

14

, the algorithm

10

obtains prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data from individual prisoners/parolees. These data include but are not limited to reference behavior data that define several classes of individuals to be monitored, behavior data defining the subject to be monitored, and data defining a set of allowed activities for each of the several classes of individuals to be monitored. The algorithm

10

stores and updates the prisoner/parolee data and prisoner/parolee monitoring data at block

16

. Algorithm

10

moves to block

18

where the algorithm

10

learns the prisoner/parolee behavior. At block

20

, the prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data in the database are updated. At block

22

, the algorithm

10

determines whether the prisoner/parolee

38

should be recommended to be set free. If the prisoner/parolee

38

is not to be set free, the algorithm

10

loops back to block

14

where the prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data from individual prisoners/parolees

38

are further obtained. If the prisoner/parolee

38

is to be set free, then the algorithm

10

executes commands to set the prisoner/parolee

38

free at block

24

. At block

26

, the prisoner/parolee records are retained for the prisoner/parolee history at block

26

. The algorithm

10

ends at block

28

. Algorithm

10

shows that the present invention relates to an all-encompassing, broad-based system and algorithm for tracking, monitoring, learning, and reinforcing the behavior of the prisoners/parolees

38

.

FIG. 2

shows an overall hardware system

30

for prisoner/parolee behavior tracking, monitoring, and learning. The overall hardware system

30

includes a hardware sub-system

32

for prisoner/parolee behavior tracking and monitoring; and a hardware sub-system

34

for prisoner/parolee behavior learning. The hardware sub-system

32

tracks and monitors individual prisoner/parolee behavior, and the hardware sub-system

34

learns the behavior of prisoners/parolees individually and on an aggregate level.

FIG. 3

illustrates a prisoner/parolee tracking and monitoring system and method in accordance with the herein disclosed inventions. The system and method of

FIG. 3

permits simultaneous tracking and monitoring of multiple prisoners or parolees

38

. The individual prisoners/parolees

38

each have securely attached to their body a prisoner sensor/processor unit

52

. The unit

52

may be attached to the arm, the leg, the waist or in any convenient manner to each prisoner/parolee

38

. Such attachment is, however, secured and may only be removed by an authorized person. The prisoner or parolee sensor/processor unit

52

permits tracking the location of individual prisoners/parolees

38

as well as monitoring audio sounds, communicating with the prisoner/parolee

38

or other personnel in the vicinity of the prisoner/parolee

38

, and monitoring physical conditions of the prisoner/parolee

38

including, for example, his/her heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, temperature, and chemical properties of selected body fluids such as sweat and/or breath. The unit

52

is a compact electronic system specifically designed for comprehensive monitoring, tracking, and learning of prisoners/parolees

38

.

As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, GPS satellites

36

are used to provide continuous tracking and surveillance of the location and travel of individual prisoners/parolees

38

. GPS tracking and ranging signals

37

are received via the prisoner/parolee sensor or processing units

52

which make use of known GPS calculation procedures to determine the location of individual prisoners or parolees

38

. The individual prisoner/parolee sensor or processor units

52

receive signals from multiple GPS satellites

36

and make use of known triangulation calculation procedures and methods for determining prisoner/parolee locations. Such location calculations make use of precisely timed ranging signals using pseudo random (PRN) coding techniques in a known manner as described, for example, in the above referenced various GPS patents which are herein incorporated by reference.

As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor units

52

are designed to communicate with control center

42

via radio control links

46

. The control center

42

may query individual prisoners/parolees

38

for their location and travel status including records of recent travel time spent at particular locations. Parameters indicative of the travel and time spent at particular locations of individual prisoners or parolees

38

are transmitted via radio control links

46

to the control

42

. Additional parameters indicative of substance abuse, such as, alcohol or drugs are also transmitted via the control links

46

. Individual prisoners/parolees

38

are identified using unique identification codes which may be used to address particular prisoners or parolees

38

via the radio control links

46

.

The radio control links

46

may make use of radio communications, standard cellular telephone technology, or other two-way radio communication methods to communicate with the control center

42

. In addition, as illustrated in

FIG. 3

, the prisoner/parolee sensor or processing units

52

may communicate through home base

40

via standard telephone links

44

with the control center

42

. The home base

40

would typically be the principal place of residence of the prisoner or parolee

38

. The prisoner or parolee

38

may be required by legal authorities to periodically transmit the outputs of the sensor or processing unit

52

via the telephone link

44

to the control center

42

. The telephonic connection may supplement or replace the radio link

46

or may be used in addition to those links

46

for periodic communication with control center

42

.

Also illustrated in

FIG. 3

are police or security units

48

which communicate via radio links

50

with the control center

42

. Security or police personnel may be dispatched in units

48

to particular locations to check on, monitor, or apprehend prisoners or parolees

38

depending upon reported activities of those prisoners or parolees

38

through the systems and methods of FIG.

3

. In addition to being used for dispatching, the two-way radio links

50

may be used by security or police personnel to report status or information pertaining to individual prisoners or parolees

38

being tracked and monitored by the systems and methods of FIG.

3

.

FIG. 4

illustrates in block diagram form a preferred embodiment of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processing unit

52

used in the inventions herein disclosed. The unit

52

of

FIG. 4

is to be worn and secured to the body of the prisoner or parolee

38

to be tracked and monitored. High speed, VLSI sensor, processing, and radio transceiver electronics are used in the unit

52

, resulting in a compact, lightweight portable prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

that may be comfortably worn by the person to be tracked and monitored.

The unit

52

of

FIG. 4

uses microprocessor control and routing circuitry

51

to interconnect the various sensors, computing elements, and radio communication elements illustrated in the figure. The control and routing circuitry

51

includes appropriate high speed bus switching and/or matrix switching circuitry of the type well known to those skilled in the art to interconnect the various electronic elements of

FIG. 4

under direction of the microprocessor controller included as part of unit

51

.

The unit

51

also includes display and control interfaces attached through interface circuit

110

. The display

108

may be a small LCD integrated circuit as a part of the physical sensor/processor unit

51

, or may, in fact, be an external display attached to the unit

51

through an appropriate communication port in the unit. The display

108

is coupled to the unit

51

via interface circuit

10

. The control keyboard

106

of

FIG. 4

may likewise be individual control buttons and keys that are a physical part of the prisoner or parolee sensor/processor unit

51

or may be a more complete keyboard attached to the unit through an appropriate control interface port. The keyboard

106

is also coupled to the unit

51

via interface circuit

110

. The keyboard/control unit

106

, display

108

, and interface

110

may be used in the initial setup of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processing unit

51

to specify particular travel and prisoner or parolee monitor parameters useful in tracking and monitoring the prisoner or parolee

38

.

FIG. 4

also illustrates a telephonic communication port

104

for coupling of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

to standard telephone lines for communication with a remote control center

42

. The telephonic communication port

104

may be used both for loading control and monitor parameters into the memory units of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

and for querying the unit

52

for the purpose of obtaining prisoner or parolee travel and monitoring parameters collected by unit

52

for use at the remote prisoner or parolee tracking and monitoring center

42

of FIG.

3

. In addition to the telephonic port

104

, the radio transceiver

96

with its associated antenna

97

may be used for communication with the remote prisoner or parolee tracking and monitoring control center

42

of FIG.

3

. The radio transceiver

96

may likewise be used for both setting of control and monitor parameters in the unit

52

and for querying unit

52

for tracking and monitoring resulting data.

The microprocessor and control routing circuitry

51

is attached to read only memory (ROM)

54

for permanent storage of control programs and/or data. The unit

52

also includes random access memory (RAM)

58

useful in execution of programs and collection of data by the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

. The clock unit

56

provides time references and time stamp data to be recorded with prisoner or parolee travel and monitoring parameters. The clock

56

is useful for indicating a time of occurrence of particular events, the duration of events such as travel times, and the time that a particular prisoner or parolee

38

spends or dwells at a particular location. Such parameters are useful in controlling the travel of the prisoner or parolee

38

in the manner described below.

The prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

of

FIG. 4

also includes a battery

98

for powering of the unit

52

and its associated circuitry. A sensor

99

is used to monitor the charge remaining on the battery

98

and is coupled through analog to digital converter

100

to the microprocessor control and routing circuitry

51

. The sensor

99

enables a person to determine when the battery unit

98

must be replaced or recharged. The output of the sensor

99

may be communicated via the radio transceiver

96

or telephone communications port

104

to the central control center

42

at prescribed intervals to indicate the status of the battery charge for individual parolees or prisoners

38

. In addition, a battery charger

102

is included which is used to recharge the battery

98

under instructions from the parolee or prisoner

38

or on command from the central control center

42

.

The prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

also includes an identifier code generator

112

used to generate unique identification codes for individual prisoners or parolees

38

being tracked and monitored. The specific identification code is appended to communications between the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

and the central control center

42

to identify and associate all communications and data files between the unit

52

and the central control center

42

. The identifier code generator

112

is also used to address individual prisoner/parolee sensor or processor units

52

from the central control center

42

, permitting selective polling of individual prisoner or parolee units

52

for the purpose of changing control and monitor parameters within the unit

52

and for querying the unit

52

for location, travel, and monitor parameters.

The prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

of

FIG. 4

includes GPS receiver

60

coupled to GPS computer

62

. The receiver

60

and computer

62

are used to receive signals from multiple GPS satellites

36

for calculation of the location of the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked by the unit

52

. The receiver

60

receives signals from multiple GPS satellites

36

via antenna

61

as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, with transmission of received GPS ranging codes to GPS computer

62

for analysis. GPS computer

62

makes use of standard and known triangulation calculation methods to precisely determine the location of the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked. The outputs of GPS computer

62

are used to report the location of the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked and also to report the route of travel of that prisoner or parolee

38

at specified time intervals or at particular times under command of the location analysis computer

88

.

Coordinate locations from the GPS computer

62

are fed to the location analysis computer

88

for further analysis and recording of prisoner or parolee location and travel routes. The location analysis computer

88

is used to compare the location and travel route coordinates and times to pre-stored, permitted travel routes and location dwell times to insure that the prisoner or parolee

38

is only traveling to permitted locations at specified times and staying at those locations for allowed periods. In addition to comparison to pre-stored time and travel parameters, the location analysis computer

88

may implement expert system algorithms designed to learn travel and dwell times of a given prisoner or parolee

38

in determining deviations of prisoner/parolee behavior from normal or expected individual travel and dwell time parameters. For example, using the location analysis computer

88

, the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

may “learn” prisoner or parolee behavior patterns useful in tracking and monitoring individual prisoner or parolees

38

. Such expected behavior useful in generating notations or warning/control signals to be used in a manner further described below.

The prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

also includes a speaker

68

attached to the unit

51

via digital to analog converter

66

for transmission of commands or inquiries to the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked. The speaker

68

may also be used to sound audible alarms to those in the vicinity of the prisoner or parolee

38

that may be deemed to be in danger or in a situation wherein they should be made aware of the presence of the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked and monitored. In addition to the speaker

68

, a sensor microphone

64

coupled to the unit

51

via analog to digital converter

70

is used to permit audio feedback from the prisoner or parolee

38

and also to sense audio signals in the vicinity of the prisoner or parolee

38

. The sensor microphone

64

may be useful, for example, in hearing gunshots, shouting, fighting, or other audible signals indicative of violent behavior. The sensor microphone

64

may also be used to record conversations between the prisoner/parolee

38

and other persons. Such recording is useful, for example, in assuring that the prisoner/parolee

38

does not engage in unauthorized activity such as drug dealing, plotting of criminal activities, or other prohibited activities.

A voice microphone

72

coupled to unit

51

via analog to digital converter

74

Is also provided to further allow communication with the prisoner or parolee

38

or with other persons such as law enforcement agents or persons that may be in danger because of the presence of the prisoner or parolee

38

. For example, police personnel may use the voice microphone

72

for direct communications with the control center

42

to indicate apprehension of a given prisoner or parolee

38

. Circumstances of such apprehension may also be transmitted via voice microphone

72

, permitting dispatch of additional police personnel or other assistance as may be appropriate for a given situation. Audio inputs from the sensor microphone

64

and voice microphone

72

may be analyzed in the audio signal analysis unit

92

of FIG.

4

. Such analysis permits automatic speaker recognition to be certain that the person speaking or wearing the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

is indeed the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked and monitored. Audio signal analysis unit

92

may also be used to recognize spoken commands or responses from the prisoner or parolee

38

and to recognize particular sounds such as gunshots, shouting, fighting, etc. Depending on sound level sensitivity, the microphones

64

and

72

may be integrated with appropriate circuitry into a single microphone unit.

Also illustrated in

FIG. 4

are heart monitor

80

and sweat sensor

76

coupled to unit

51

respectively through analog to digital converters

82

and

78

. These physical monitors permit select sensing of the prisoner or parolee physical parameters useful in the tracking and warning system herein disclosed. For example, the heart monitor

80

may be used to indicate an excited state or condition that may be associated with crime or other unauthorized activity. Sweat sensor

76

may be used to detect the presence of drugs in the manner to be described below, permitting the monitoring of substance abuse by the prisoner or parolee

38

. Combining such monitoring with precise location information as determined via GPS receiver

60

and GPS computer

62

permits dispatching of police or other personnel to the location of a particular prisoner or parolee

38

that may be engaged in illegal or unauthorized activity such as the use of drugs, alcohol, etc. In addition to the heart monitor

80

and sweat sensor

76

illustrated in

FIG. 4

, other physiological body parameter monitoring may be implemented including, for example, the use of breath analyzers that are on command from the central control center

42

to determine the presence of alcohol.

The prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

illustrated in

FIG. 4

includes a break sensor

84

with an alarm code generator

86

used to report any attempt by the prisoner or parolee

38

to remove the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

from his or her body. The unit

52

is attached to the prisoner or parolee

38

with a strap. The break sensor

84

is configured to permit sensing of removal of the unit

52

by, for example, cutting of the strap or otherwise interrupting the physical integrity of the attachment mechanism to the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked and monitored.

Communication processor

94

of

FIG. 4

is used to coordinate communications with the central control and monitoring station

42

via the telephone port

104

and/or radio transceiver

96

. Communication processor

94

both receives messages from the central control center

42

and formats and transmits messages to that center

42

. Communication processor

94

may be used to coordinate both voice and data communications using the various computer and sensor devices described above. In addition, the communication processor

94

has access to identification code generator

112

and clock

56

via microprocessor control and routing circuitry

51

for appending identification codes and time stamps to messages transmitted to the remote control center

42

.

FIG. 5

illustrates the configuration of the prisoner or parolee control center

42

of FIG.

3

. As illustrated in

FIG. 3

, the prisoner/parolee control center

42

is used to communicate with the individual prisoners or parolees

38

as well as with police and security personnel and vehicles

48

via the indicated radio control links

50

. In addition, telephonic couplers

44

may be coupled to the control center

42

from the homebase of individual prisoners or parolees

38

. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the prisoner/parolee control center

42

includes a telephone line interface

122

coupled to telephonic coupler

44

. In addition, a radio transceiver

114

is used for communication with individual prisoners or parolees

38

via radio control links

46

and

50

. The telephonic interface

122

and radio transceiver interface

114

are coupled to the local prisoner or parolee control center computer and control equipment of the control center

42

via the interface bus or switching mechanism

113

. In addition to the telephonic voice line interface

122

, the control center

42

permits data communication via telephone modem

120

also interfaced with switching bus

113

as shown in FIG.

5

. Audio interface

125

permits direct communication with prisoner or parolee control center operating personnel via microphone

129

and earphones

127

. This configuration enables operating personnel to communicate directly with police and security personnel via radio transceiver

114

and radio links

50

and also to communicate with parolees or personnel via the telephone interface

44

or radio links

46

as illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 5

. In addition, the audio interface

125

permits prisoner or parolee control center operating personnel to “listen in” via sensor microphone

64

and/or voice microphone

72

of

FIG. 4

to sounds and/or to speakers in the vicinity of individual prisoners or parolees

38

for the purpose of hearing conversations or other audible sounds such as gunshots, shouting, fighting, etc. that may indicate an emergency or dangerous situation. As indicated in

FIG. 5

, a voice recorder unit

132

is also provided as part of the prisoner or parolee control center

42

and is interfaced to switching control bus

113

via telephone receiver

130

. The voice recorder

132

may be used to record individual voice messages and also to provide voice response messages such as audible messages to security personnel in response to inquiries from such personnel via radio links

50

of FIG.

3

.

Prisoner or parolee control center operating personnel interface to the control center communication and computing apparatus via the keyboard

124

, display

126

, and printer

128

. These interfaces, together with the above describe audio interfaces, provide prisoner or parolee control center operating personnel complete access to voice and data communications to and from prisoners or parolees

38

and to and from security personnel using the techniques and methods of

FIGS. 3 and 4

described above.

Also shown in

FIG. 5

is the prisoner or parolee control center control computer

116

and its associated data storage

118

. The control computer

116

is used to collect data from individual prisoners/parolees

38

indicative of their locations, travels, and the time intervals associated with such travels, or periods spent at individual locations. The computer control center

116

is able to compare such data to authorized travel and time data for each individual prisoner or parolee

38

. Based on these comparisons, warning signals may be generated to alert prisoner or parolee control center operators of violations of authorized movements by the prisoner/parolee

38

. Indications of substance abuse received from individual prisoners/parolees

38

via the apparatus and methods described above are also collected via computer control

116

for storage in data storage unit

118

with subsequent indication to prisoner or parolee control center operating personnel of prisoner or parolee violations so that appropriate action may be taken. Additionally, the prisoner or parolee control center control computer

116

accesses prisoner or parolee data and prisoner or parolee monitoring data, and the computer

116

learns the prisoners' or parolees' behaviors from the data.

FIG. 6

is a pictorial representation of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

of

FIG. 4

showing a display

108

and keyboard/control buttons

106

. The various communication ports are indicated on the side of unit

52

. In addition, strap

134

is illustrated in FIG.

6

and is used to attach the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

to an arm, leg, or the torso of the prisoner or parolee

38

being tracked and monitored. The strap

134

includes a drug or substance abuse detector

140

which makes direct contact with the skin of the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

via wire

138

. The strap

134

is designed such that any attempt to disconnect or remove the prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

from the prisoner or parolee

38

will result in an alarm signal generated by break sensor

84

and alarm code generator

86

shown in FIG.

4

and discussed above. Upon activation of the break sensor

84

, a tranquilizing substance may be automatically injected into the prisoner/parolee

38

to give authorities time to apprehend the prisoner/parolee

38

and inspect, repair, or replace the damaged prisoner/parolee sensor or processor unit

52

.

FIG. 7

illustrates the sensor

140

in contact with the skin

141

of the prisoner or parolee

38

. The strap

134

attaches the detector

140

to the sensor/processor unit

52

as illustrated in FIG.

6

. The sensor

140

is of a type known in the art that is worn in a manner so that it is in direct contact with the skin

141

as illustrated in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. The sensor

140

permits detection of such substances as methampheamine, morphine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cocaine. The sensor

140

is responsive to the presence of chemicals indicative of the substances of the sweat or perspiration of the person

38

wearing the detector. Such known devices are called Remote Biochemical Assay Telemetering System (R-BATS), or “drug badges” and are conceived for monitoring convicted drug users on probation. A drug badge of this type is described, for example, in the May 1996 issue of NASA Technical briefs in an article entitled “Devices Would Detect Drugs in Sweat”, incorporated herein by reference. The device described in that article comprise three principal components as indicated in FIG.

8

. The bar biochemical detector

142

absorbs sweat from the wearer (i.e. prisoner/parolee

38

). The sweat is filtered through a membrane that will pass only smaller molecules such as those of drugs, water, or salt. The optical detector

144

uses photoelectric sensors. Florescent labels are attached to the drug molecules and are irradiated resulting in florescence that are able to be sensed by the optical or photo detector

144

. The transmitter

146

of

FIG. 8

transmits an indication of such molecules to the prisoner/parolee sensor or processing unit

52

via wire

138

as indicated in

FIGS. 6 and 8

above. Using this detection technology in connection with GPS system, the tracking system and method herein disclosed enables not only notifying officials of substance abuse, but also providing location information permitting apprehension of the abuser.

Referring to

FIG. 1

, the general algorithm or method

10

comprises block

14

with the operation of obtaining prisoner or parolee data and monitoring data from individual prisoners/parolees

38

, block

16

with the act of storing prisoner or parolee data and monitoring data into a database, block

18

with the act of learning prisoner or parolee behavior, and block

20

with the act of updating the prisoner or parolee data and monitoring data in the database. The learning prisoner or parolee behavior block

18

is divided into two further general blocks: the learning individual prisoner/parolee behavior block

150

and the learning aggregate prisoner/parolee behavior block

152

as shown in FIG.

9

.

More specifically as to the general implementation, the method

10

involves monitoring and learning a subject's behavior. This method

10

includes creating and storing in a memory of a monitoring station computer

116

a first file including reference behavior data defining several classes of individuals

38

to be monitored, including at least one class to which the subject

38

belongs. The method

10

also involves creating and storing in the monitoring station computer memory

118

a second file including behavior data defining the subject

38

to be monitored, and the method

10

defines and programs the monitoring station computer

116

with data defining a set of allowed activities for each of the several classes of individuals

38

to be monitored. The monitoring station computer

116

is defined and programmed with data defining a set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject

38

to be monitored, wherein the allowed activities include predefined routes and times of travel in a location remote from the monitoring station computer

116

.

A remote monitoring transmitter and receiver

52

is attached to the subject

38

, wherein the receiver cooperates with a satellite global positioning system

36

to determine the subject's current location as the subject

38

moves about in the area located remote from the monitoring station computer

116

. Data defining the subject's location at a specific time is periodically transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter and receiver

52

to the monitoring station computer

116

. The data transmitted from the remote monitoring transmitter is computer analyzed by comparing the data defining the subject's current location and time with the set of allowed activities that are specific for the subject

38

and determining if there are any variations from the allowed activities. A first alarm signal defining any determined variation from the allowed activities is generated, and the first alarm signal defining the determined variation from the allowed activities is further analyzed using an expert system programmed to recognize a continuum of degrees of alarms based on a comparison of the determined variation, the behavior data defining the subject to be monitored, and the reference behavior data defining the class of individuals

38

to which the subject

38

belongs. A second alarm signal defining a specific recommended course of action that is appropriate for the determined variation, the subject's specific behavior data, and the data defining the class of individuals to which the subject belongs, is generated from the expert system.

A number of algorithms or methods for learning individual prisoner/parolee behavior exist, and any suitable algorithm may be used in conjunction with the present invention.

FIG. 10

shows a general example algorithm

154

for learning individual prisoner/parolee behavior. Algorithm

154

starts at block

156

. At block

158

, the algorithm

154

accesses prisoner/parolee data and prisoner/parolee monitoring data from the database. The algorithm

154

moves to block

160

where the normal behavior standard for individual prisoners/parolees

38

is accessed from the database and the monitored prisoner/parolee data is compared with the normal behavior standard.

At block

162

, the algorithm

154

determines whether the monitored prisoner/parolee data deviates from normal behavior. If there is deviation in behavior at block

162

, then the deviated behavior is noted and/or appropriate action is taken at block

164

. The algorithm

154

moves to decision block

166

where it is determined whether the normal behavior standard for the prisoner/parolee needs to be changed or updated. If the normal behavior standard needs to be changed, then the algorithm

154

moves to block

168

where the normal behavior standard in the database is updated and changed and then loops back to block

158

where the prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data from the database is accessed. If the normal behavior standard does not need to be changed, then the algorithm

154

loops directly back to block

158

where the prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data from the database is accessed.

If there is no deviation in behavior at block

162

, then the algorithm

154

moves to decision block

170

where it is determined whether the prisoner/parolee

38

should be set free. If the prisoner/parolee

38

is not to be set free, then the algorithm

154

loops back to block

158

where the prisoner/parolee data and monitoring data from the database is again accessed. If the prisoner/parolee

38

is to be set free, the algorithm

154

moves to block

172

where the prisoner/parolee is set free and to block

174

where the algorithm

154

retains the prisoner/parolee records for each prisoner's/parolee's criminal record or history. The algorithm

154

ends at block

176

.

FIG. 11