The system of auto positioning and tracking using a system of receiving GPS signals through the use of satellites to get accurate positioning information, then transmitting the position data through GSM mobile network to receiving terminal and integrating the data with GIS information system, has been published and applied for many years.

In fact, there are many related products in the market that claims to be able to support this integrated system with ease and synergy. However, all these products have their inherent shortcomings and problems and therefore cannot meet application requirement in many cases. Some of them are too slow, far from real-time, while others are easily “congested” as they run through the “air-waves”. On the other side of the spectrum, systems that can overcome the inadequacies of the lower-end system are too costly, complicated, and requires high costs in setups and maintenance by IT experts.

CURRENT MODES OF TRANSMISSION

MODEM	Through the use of the Modem (Modulation and Demodulation), the mobile terminal modulates and sends the data by voice channel using a common GSM modem. Though its edge is in its simplicity with no server needed, the disadvantage is that the GSM usage is billed on the air time pegged upon each transmission resulting in it being a very expensive maintenance system to maintain for continual tracking.
SMS	Through SMS (Short Message Service), the mobile terminal sends data through SMS to receiving terminal. Compared to the Modem solution, the SMS solution is more economical. However, consider the time used to maintain long time continual tracking using this system. It would therefore result in again in a high cost in maintaining a continual tracking system. For tracking of multi-objects, the receiving terminal would need a very expensive multi-channels GSM modem which can get easily congested in real-life application though in theory it seems the most idea of systems to adopt.
GPRS	Through GPRS (General Pocket Radio Service), the mobile terminal sends data through GPRS data channel to a special TCP/IP server linked to the Internet, or a PC with a fixed Internet IP address. In this case, the GPRS is always online and billed only on the bytes transmitted, rendering it to be a much cheaper alternative to any current systems. GPRS is gradually become the main form of application adopted in the GPS/GSM/GIS tracking applications.

Though GPRS is the widely acknowledged successful application to adopt, it cannot be denied that high costs are involved in both setting up as well as maintenance of the application. Also, in order to fully integrate and fully tap upon the efficiency of the system, there are some prior conditions that are capped with inevitable constraints which need to be overcome:

CONDITIONS	CONSTRAINTS
A special Internet server with fixed IP address	High cost needed to purchase and maintain dedicated IP address
The IP address needs to be programmed into the mobile terminal	The “mobile” terminal becomes immobile. It is also not easy to change preset IP address when the need arises.
Maintenances of server receiving and processing service.	High costs in developing and maintaining the server and server software.

SOLUTION

At Pudlington, we would like to share with you an idea and concept that we believe would suit your needs.

Through innovation and constant re-engineering, we have come up with a tracking system we call the Multi-Mode Mobile Asset Tracking System.

With this Multi-Mode Mobile Asset Tracking System, information can be transmitted efficiently and with greater economy as the remote mobile terminal to the receiving and processing equipment (receiving terminal) relies upon the public GSM mobile network. This in essence means that the convenience and efficiency of the current GSM network is synergized into our systems, creating not only ease in integration, but also increases the reliability of its success even with any current systems running in your company.

CONCEPT

The new solution we developed is a multi-mode GPS/GSM/GIS tracking system. It improves the data transmission method through GSM network. Different but optimized modes can be adopted under different applications and conditions. In face the user can adopt and use different modes t the same time. This increases the flexibility of the system and greatly lowers setup, usage maintenance and upgrade costs. It also greatly expands the application scope.

The basic concept of the new solution hinges upon the concept that there can be more communication methods between the mobile terminal and the receiving terminal than the conventional ones mentioned above. On our system, two other modes are set up: the SMTP mode and HTTP mode, which are much easier for setup and use.

Depending in the needs of each individualized application, the user can select and use the most suitable modes, to achieve the best efficiency. We have even made the switching between different modes as simple as sending an SMS.

DETAIL

MODE 0, SMS ACCESS MODE

This is the default access mode of the mobile terminal. It is also the simplest and most direct access mode. It doesn’t depend on any server and it doesn’t need any prior parameter setup. Under the SMS access mode, the user would only need to access to a normal mobile phone to send a command and acquire positioning data. Besides, using this SMS mode, the user can also configure its system’s parameters for other access modes. This instant parameter modification can be done remotely, at any time, without the necessary to plug into any PC or other equipment.

MODE 1, SMTP ACCESS MODE

SMTP access mode uses the GPRS channel to transmit tracking data. Its advantage is that the application would always be available online, is fast in its transmission and its bill is based upon the bytes used whilst avoiding the need and the requirement of a fixed IP address.

SMTP access mode makes use of a public SMTP server, i.e. normal email sending server. To activate the application, one only needs to assign a valid email address to each mobile terminal.

As soon as the SMTP server address is configured in both ‘email from’ address and ‘email to’ address, at automated and repeated intervals, the mobile terminal will send the tracking data into the designated email boxes repeatedly.

The user can access these tracking data through any Internet linked PC using the traditional POP3 client software such as Microsoft Outlook.

In addition, through using designated software, the SMTP can automatically access the POP3 server at background, and display the tracking position on the digital map in real time.

The most evident advantage of using the SMTP mode is that the user doesn’t need to setup an individualized server for the application to be viable, but rather is able to make use of any existing mail server, or even make use of any free email account available on the Internet. More importantly as there is no dedicated TCP/IP port opened, there is therefore no need to put up defenses against hacking. In fact, no firewall is even required!

MODE 2, HTTP ACCESS MODE

The HTTP mode uses also GPRS data channel to transmit tracking data. Its advantages are similar to that of the SMTP mode, though it uses a normal HTTP web site server.

A HTTP server compiles to its tracking needs via a valid domain name. However, a user doesn’t need to setup his/her own physical server in most cases. A lowered cost of installation is achieved through the use of Web Hosting Services on the Internet, with is available on very nominal rates. The service used for tracking is completely similar to a normal website’s maintenance. There is an INPUT page, an OUTPUT page, and a small database necessary for this site. An optional DISPLAY page for manual checking is also available on call.

As soon as a configured HTTP server address is set up, at repeated intervals, mobile terminals will start to send data into the database through the INPUT page, and update the record with the latest positioning results.

The user can access these tracking data using any Internet linked PC. Using any client web browser such as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, the user can visit the DISPLAY page to view the data required. Using dedicated client side tracking software, the tracking data can be programmed in real time and visualized on a digital map.

The main advantage of adopting an HTTP mode is that there is no need to setup an individualized server; rather it is able to integrate its use to any of the existing Internet servers and hosting services. There is therefore savings from setup cost, technical resources and the inconvenience of having to maintain a server. In time if the user has intentions to setup his/her own server, it only needs to adopt standard web server technology, avoiding the fuss of having to apply specific technological software. Similar to the SMTP mode, the HTTP mode also doesn’t require an open dedicated TCP/IP port. No extra security problem will rise. The data transmission need not be blocked by any firewall.

MODE 3, TCPIP ACCESS MODE

For large corporations that might require the support of a large scale system, a dedicated server can be used to increase the server’s capability and efficiency. In this case, the TCPIP mode is suitable. In TCPIP mode, the Internet linked server has it own IP address and runs upon its own dedicated tracking service. It ‘listens’ at the dedicated TCP/IP port to wait for any impending mobile terminal’s connection.

As soon the IP address and port number of the server is configured, at repeated intervals, the mobile terminal will start to open a TCP/IP connection with the server and then send tracking data repeatedly to the server. When the ‘listen’ service of the server receives any tracking data, it will then processed the data and refresh the corresponding record of the database, displaying immediately on the local digital map the exact data in real time.

Compared to the existing GPRS mode of products in the market, our server of TCPIP mode can have a fixed IP address, as well as a dynamic IP address. As soon as the receiving server or receiving terminal get its IP address on boot up, the user will need only to re-configure the IP address setting of the mobile terminal to align it to any of the users desired output. Our remote setting mechanism makes all this possible without any hassle.

The biggest advantage of the TCPIP mode is that it uses a designated server, thus ensuring the service’s speed and quality.

CONCLUSION

We thank you for the opportunity to share with you our knowledge and innovation. We hope that our empowering introduction to you upon what we can offer would open up opportunities for us to work with you towards creating success in your own enterprises.

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INVENTION

MODEM

SMS

GPRS

MODE 3, TCPIP ACCESS MODE

CONCLUSION