SYSTEM FOR ALTERING WHEN SEPARATED BY A PRESET DISTANCE

• US 20010030603A1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Arens, Susanne
• Application Number:
  US09/604,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/26 Communication means, e.g. means for signalling the presence of diverselectric communication in general H04
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure

A distance is discovered between a first device and a second device. The distance is discovered by any method. One method for discovering the distance is by generating a signal from the first device to the second device and measuring the amplitude of the signal received by the second device then discovering the distance from the measured strength of the signal. A second method for determining the distance is by discovering the location of each device and communicating the location of the first device to the second device where the two locations are compared to realize the difference between the two devices. A third method for determining the distance is by the second device requesting a response from the first device and measuring the time between the request and the receipt of the response. The distance is then discovered from the measured time. However it is discovered, the discovered distance is compared to a preset distance condition. An alarm is activated when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance. The alarm may be audible, visible, or both.

Claims

1. A method for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the method comprising:

(a)first and second devices each discovering a distance between the first and second devices;

(b)the first device comparing the discovered distance to a first distance condition and alarming when the first distance condition is met by the discovered distance; and

,

(c)the second device comparing the discovered distance to a second distance condition and alarming when the second distance condition is met by the discovered distance.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein discovering the distance includes:

(a)the first device generating a first signal having an initial signal strength and the second device generating a second signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength of the first and second signals diminishing as the first and second signals travel between the first device and the second device;

(b)the second device receiving the first signal and the first device receiving the second signal;

(c)the second device measuring the signal strength of the received first signal and the first device measuring the signal strength of the received second signal; and

,

(d)the second device discovering the distance from the measured first signal strength and the first device discovering the distance from the measured second signal strength.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes calculating the distance from the measured signal strength.

4. The method of

claim 2

wherein discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes comparing the measured signal strength to values in a table to discover the distance.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein discovering the distance includes:

(a)the first device discovering the location of the first device;

(b)the second device discovering the location of the second device;

(c)the first device transmitting the location of the first device to the second device and the second device transmitting the location of the second device to the first device; and

,

(d)the first and second devices comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein discovering the distance includes:

(a)the second device requesting a response from the first device and the first device requesting a response from the second device;

(b)the first device responding to the second device and the second device responding to the first device;

(c)the first device measuring a first time between the request and receiving the response from the second device and the second device measuring a second time between the request and receiving the response from the first device; and

,

(d)the first device discovering the distance from the first measured time and the second device discovering the distance from the second measured time.

7. The method of

claim 1

wherein alarming includes generating a visible indication.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein alarming includes generating an audible indication.

9. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:

(a) means for discovering a distance between the first and the second device;

(b)means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and

,

(c)means for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance.

10. The system of

claim 9

wherein the means for discovering the distance includes:

(a)the first device having means for generating a first signal having an initial signal strength and the second device having means for generating a second signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength of the first and second signals diminishing as the first and second signals travel between the first device and the second device;

(b)the second device having means for receiving the first signal and the first device having means for receiving the second signal;

(c)the second device having means for measuring the signal strength of the received first signal and the first device having means for measuring the signal strength of the received second signal; and

,

(d)the second device having means for discovering the distance from the measured first signal strength and the first device having means for discovering the distance from the measured second signal strength.

11. The system of

claim 10

wherein the means for discovering the distance from each measured signal strength includes means for calculating the distance from each measured signal strength.

12. The system of

claim 10

wherein the means for discovering the distance from each measured signal strength includes:

(a)a table having values indicative of signal strength cross-referenced with values indicative of distance; and

,

(b)means for comparing each measured signal strength to values in the table to discover the distance.

13. The system of

claim 9

wherein the means for discovering the distance includes:

(a)the first device having means for discovering the location of the first device;

(b)the second device having means for discovering the location of the second device;

(c)the first device having means for transmitting the location of the first device to the second device and the second device having means for transmitting the location of the second device to the first device; and

,

(d)the first and second devices each having means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.

14. The system of

claim 9

wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating a visible indication.

15. The system of

claim 9

wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating an audible indication.

16. The system of

claim 9

further including:

(a)the first device having means for transmitting an alarm signal to the second device; and

,

(b)the second device having means for alarming in response to the alarm signal.

17. The system of

claim 16

wherein the first device further includes a user selection device for activating the means for transmitting the alarm signal to the second device.

18. The system of

claim 9

wherein the means for discovering the distance includes:

(a)the second device having means for requesting a response from the first device and the first device having means for requesting a response from the second device;

(b)the first device having means for responding to the second device and the second device having means for responding to the first device;

(c)the first device having means for measuring a first time between the request and receiving the response from the second device and the second device having means for measuring a second time between the request and receiving the response from the first device; and

,

(d)the first device having means for discovering the distance from the first measured time and the second device having means for discovering the distance from the second measured time.

19. A system for providing an alert when a distance between two devices exceeds a distance, the system comprising a first device and a second device, each device having:

(a)a signal generator;

(b)a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the other of the first and second devices;

(c)means for discovering, from a signal received from the other of the first and second devices, a distance between the first and second devices;

(d)means for comparing the distance to a distance condition; and

,

(e)an alarm for alarming when the distance condition is met by the discovered distance.

20. The system of

claim 19

wherein the signal generator includes means for generating a signal having an initial signal strength, the signal strength diminishing as the signal travels between the first device and the second device and wherein the means for discovering the distance includes:

(a)means for measuring the signal strength of the received signal; and

,

(d)means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength.

21. The system of

claim 20

wherein the means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes means for calculating the distance from the measured signal strength.

22. The system of

claim 20

wherein the means for discovering the distance from the measured signal strength includes:

(a)a table having values indicative of signal strength cross-referenced with values indicative of distance; and

,

(b)means for comparing the measured signal strength to values in the table to discover the distance.

23. The system of

claim 19

wherein:

(a)the first device further includes means for discovering the location of the first device;

(b)the second device further includes means for discovering the location of the second device;

(c)the signal generator of the first device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the first device and the signal generator of the second device includes means for generating a signal indicative of the location of the second device; and

,

(d)the means for discovering the distance includes means for comparing the location of the first device to the location of the second device to discover the distance between the first device and the second device.

24. The system of

claim 19

wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating a visible signal indication.

25. The system of

claim 19

wherein the means for alarming includes means for generating an audible indication.

26. The system of

claim 19

further including:

(a)the first device having means for transmitting an alarm signal to the second device; and

,

(b)the second device having means for alarming in response to the alarm signal.

27. The system of

claim 26

wherein the first device further includes a user selection device for activating the means for transmitting the alarm signal to the second device.

28. The system of

claim 19

wherein the means for discovering the distance between the first and second devices includes:

(a)the second device having means for requesting a response from the first device and the first device having means for requesting a response from the second device;

(b)the signal generator including means for responding to a request for a response from the other of the first and second devices;

(c)the first device including means for measuring a first time between the request and receiving the response from the second device and the second device including means for measuring a second time between the request and receiving the response from the first device; and

,

(d)the first device including means for discovering the distance from the first measured time and the second device including means for discovering the distance from the second measured time.