Wearable security system and method

• US 20050068171A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tu, Peter Henry, Rittscher, Jens, Kelliher, Timothy Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/674,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A wearable security system integrates sensors, such as optical and acoustic sensors, a decision engine processor, a communications device, such as a cellular telephone, a location determination device, such as a GPS system, a device controller, and user feedback. A method of wearable security operates the wearable security system so that a user is aware of and able to control and interact with his or her environment, such as providing notice of potential threats or taking protective actions.

Claims

1. A method for wearable security, comprising:

receiving data from at least one sensor of a wearable security system;

monitoring said data for events;

selectively associating behaviors with said events;

selectively assessing each event in the context of said events and said behaviors for a potential threat; and

providing selective notice of said potential threat.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring said data for events comprises:

segmenting said data into objects; and

monitoring said objects for events.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing selective notice of said events.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a person is one of said objects.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

identifying said person.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

providing selective notice of said person.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

controlling said object.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a selective history.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

operating a self-defensive system.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with an external sensor network.

11. A system for wearable security, comprising:

a decisioning engine for selectively assessing events for potential threats to a user, said decisioning engine having at least one state transition model for determining said events, at least one segmentation routine for determining objects, and an inference engine for associating events with behaviors;

a plurality of sensors for gathering data about said objects, said objects being the result of segmenting said data by said at least one segmentation routine, said plurality of sensors being in communication with said decisioning engine; and

a user feedback component for interacting with said user, said user feedback component being in communication with said decisioning engine;

wherein said decisioning engine, said plurality of sensors and said user feedback component reside in an article capable of being worn or carried by said user.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communications component for communicating with an external resource, said communications component being in communication with said decisioning engine;

wherein said communications component resides in said article.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said external resource comprises at least one resource selected from the group consisting of:

an off-board reasoning component, an external data component, an emergency response component, an external sensor network, and any combinations thereof.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said external sensor network comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a camera, an audio component, a satellite component, a chemical component, and any combinations thereof.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a spatial location component in communication with said decisioning engine;

wherein said spatial location component resides in said article.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a device control component for controlling at least some of said objects, said device control component being in communication with said decisioning engine;

wherein said device control component resides in said article.

17. A system for portable security, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for gathering data;

a user feedback component;

a device controller; and

a decisioning engine to monitor an environment with said plurality of sensors, recognize events, provide selective warnings with said user feedback component, and take actions with said device controller, said decisioning engine having at least one state transition model for determining said events, at least one segmentation routine for determining objects from said data, and an inference engine for associating events with behaviors;

wherein said device controller, said user feedback component, said communications component, said plurality of sensors, and said decisioning engine are capable of being worn or carried by a user.

18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a communications component capable of being carried by said user.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said communications component communicates with an external sensor network.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said external sensor network comprises a plurality of sensors.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a camera, a microphone, a satellite sensor, a chemical sensor, and any combination thereof.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said communications component communicates with at least one of the following:

a reasoning engine, external data, and an emergency response system.

23. A method of providing security to a wearer of a portable device, comprising:

controlling the portable device to collect data about the wearer and/or an environment of the wearer;

controlling the portable device to assess said data for a potential threat to the wearer; and

controlling the portable device to notify the wearer of said potential threat.