Expandable object tracking system and devices

• US 20040203859A1
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pui Hang Yuen
• Original Assignee: Pui Hang Yuen
• Inventors: Yuen, Pui Hang, Yuen, Sik Hing, Minikes, Laurence J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,891,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

An object tracking system is constructed by linking a plurality of devices. Each device includes an RF transceiver, memory, a user interface and a processor for coordination and management of these components. The devices are programmed to form a link with another compatible device by wirelessly exchanging their unique ID codes for storage in the other'"'"'s memory. The devices are responsive to messages from each device whose ID is stored in memory. Responses may range from sounding an alarm to actuation of a switch to detection of the presence or absence of another linked device. The simple, linkable devices, permit construction of complex and flexible networks for the purposes of object tracking, proximity detection, remote actuation and more. Each of the operations including linking, unlinking and general action is initiated by a single key of the device.

Claims

1. An object tracking device (OTD) for establishing a wireless link with compatible devices having RF receiver/transmitter means for transmitting and receiving unique self-identification codes (IDs), said OTD comprising:

RF circuit means for transmitting and receiving RF signals;

user interface means for interfacing with a user, said interfacing comprising audio and visual signaling to the user and permitting user inputs to the OTD;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal;

memory means for storage of identification codes (ID) including at least one unique ID for self-identification; and

processor means for processing received RF signals and user inputs, management of said memory and control of said alarm means,

wherein said OTD establishes a wireless link with a plurality of said compatible devices by receiving the ID of each of said plurality of compatible devices and storing said ID in said memory means and transmitting its self-identification ID to each of said compatible devices for storage therein and said OTD terminates said wireless link with a particular device by erasing an ID associated with the particular device from memory and transmitting its self-identification ID to the particular device for removal therefrom,

whereby said OTD is responsive to RF signals from compatible devices whose IDs are stored in said memory.

2. The OTD of claim 1, wherein said wireless link comprises either a general link or a proximity link.

3. The OTD of claim 2, wherein said OTD responds to a general message from a compatible device having a general link by performing a related general task.

4. The OTD of claim 2, wherein said OTD responds to a proximity message from a compatible device having a proximity link by sending a general message if the compatible device having a proximity link is not detected for a pre-determined period of time.

9. The OTD of claim 2, wherein said OTD transmits a general message to linked compatible devices when a user input consisting of a single push of a single button is received from said user interface.

5. An object tracking system (OTS) comprising a plurality of linked object tracking devices (OTDs), each said OTD comprising:

an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals;

user interface means for interfacing with a user, said interfacing comprising audio and visual signaling to the user and permitting user inputs to the OTD;

alarm means for producing an alarm signal;

memory means for storage of identification codes (ID) including at least one unique ID for self-identification; and

processor means for processing received RF signals and user inputs, management of said memory and control of said alarm means,

wherein said linked OTDs comprise OTDs that have wirelessly received and stored the IDs of at least one other OTD and each said linked OTD is responsive only to RF signals from linked OTDs.

6. The object tracking system of claim 5, comprising at least one Extension Device (ExD), said ExD comprising:

an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals;

a user interface permitting user inputs to the ExD;

a memory for storing identification codes (IDs) including at least one unique ID for self-identification; and

processor means for processing received RF signals and user inputs and management of said memory,

wherein said at least one ExD establishes a wireless link with at least one of said OTDs by wirelessly transmitting its unique ID to the OTD for storage therein and receiving the OTD unique ID for storage in said ExD memory,

whereby said at least one OTD is responsive to the linked ExD and the linked ExD is responsive to the at least one OTD.

7. The object tracking system of claim 6, wherein said ExD comprises a remotely controlled switch, and said ExD is responsive to a signal from said at least one OTD to actuate said switch.

8. The object tracking system of claim 6, wherein said ExD periodically transmits an RF message containing its unique ID.

10. A method for building a network comprising a plurality of linked devices, each said device comprising RF transceiver means for transmitting and receiving RF signals, user interface means for receiving user inputs and relating information to a user, memory means for storage of identification codes (IDs) including at least one unique ID for self-identification, and processor means for processing received RF signals and user inputs and management of said memory, said method comprising the steps of:

placing two of said devices in proximity to each other;

applying a user input indicative of a link request to both said devices;

exchanging the unique IDs between said devices by RF signal for storage therein or erasure therefrom; and

repeating the steps of placing, applying and exchanging,

whereby devices are responsive to other devices, the unique IDs of which are stored in memory.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising the steps of:

designating particular of said devices for linkage to each of the other devices in said network; and

repeating the steps of placing, applying and exchanging for the particular of said devices and each of the other devices in said network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying comprises a single push of a single button.