FACILITY AND METHOD FOR TRACKING PHYSICAL ASSETS

摘要

A communication module (36) for an asset (26) to be monitored operates to periodically receive a signal from a monitoring facility via a first wireless communication system (20), and in response to the absence of the signal at an expected time, communicating with the module via a second wireless system (44). The first system may be a short range system operating inside a limited facility, and the second system may be a cellular phone system. The module may include a global positioning receiver (50), so that the module may report its location via the second system to the monitoring system when it is taken from the transmission range of the first system.