Pro Tech will use wireless modules to transmit information in monitoring the location of offenders under community supervision such as probation and parole.

Sierra was selected by Pro Tech Monitoring as part of their patented "offender satellite surveillance system". The SB 220 OEM module is located in the portable tracking device (PTD) that transmits wireless data back to the Surveillance Data Centre.

"Our business aims at taking offender monitoring into the 21st century and Sierra Wireless was a clear choice of partner in our integrated, breakthrough wireless solution," said Bob Martinez, PTM, President and former Governor of Florida.

"This contract highlights Sierra continued strategy to deliver practical, effective wireless solutions to new segments of the public safety market," said Jason Cohenour, Sierra Wireless Vice President of Sales. "The SB 220 allows us to deliver a compact, feature rich product in the smallest form factor."

"The SB220's flexible form factor and easy configuration made it the perfect option for our complete wireless solution," said Hoyt M. Layson Jr., Vice President, PTM and Inventor of SMART.

How the Wireless Solution Works

The offender is fitted with an ankle bracelet and given a PTD that monitors the proximity of the ankle bracelet. Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites track the PTD's location 24 hours a day. Corrections personnel can declare any area off-limits and establish a daily schedule for the offender. Off limit areas and daily schedules are programmed to the offender's PTD using cellular communications. If the "hot zone" is violated, the offender is notified of the violation and a wireless message also advises the supervision agency of the violation.

Victims at risk also receive advance warning that the offender is in the hot zone, giving the victim the necessary time to move away from the offender. Victim notification can occur via fax, pager or cellular telephone.

The wireless data is currently transmitted via circuit-switched cellular (CSC), which is based on the amps networks used on today's cellular phones. Future implementation of Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network is planned.

The SB220 OEM Module

The SB220 represents the smallest form factor with multi-mode access capability. Chosen by leading developers of mobile computing solutions, the module equips your system with dual wireless data modes (CDPD or CSC) and wireline and fax as standard.

GPS UPDATE - SpaceDaily Special Report

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SPACEDAILY

Russian Satellite Returns EO Images
Baikonur April 7, 1998 -
Aerial Images, Inc., a pioneer in the application and integration of digital imagery from space, and Sovinformsputnik, a branch of the Russian space agency (RKA), announce the successful recovery of an imaging satellite the two companies launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan in February. The satellite, which has touched down back at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, circled the Earth for 45 days taking highly-detailed images of the Southeast United States and major population centers around the world. This landing represents the first successful recovery of a commercial 2-meter resolution Earth imaging satellite.