Personal item monitor using radio frequency identification

• US 20050148339A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Brian, Boman, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection

Abstract

A personal item monitoring system includes a monitor having a transmitter and a receiver located therein. At least one radio identification tag is adapted to be coupled to a personal item. Alternatively, the radio identification tag may be pre-installed into the personal item. The monitor emits a radio frequency received by the radio frequency identification tag, and the radio frequency identification tag emits a responding signal if within a detection range. The monitor then alerts a user if the radio identification tag leaves the range of detection.

Claims

1. A personal item monitoring system comprising:

a monitor having a transmitter and a receiver located therein; and

at least one radio frequency identification tag adapted to be coupled to a personal item;

wherein said monitor emits a radio frequency signal received by said radio frequency identification tag, and said radio frequency identification tag emits a responding signal if within a detection range; and

said monitor alerts a user if said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range.

2. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor is a cellular phone.

3. The personal item monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said cellular phone is programmed to dial a pre-selected phone number to alert said user when said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range.

4. The personal item monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said cellular phone is disabled when said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range until a password is entered into said cellular phone.

5. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor is a PDA device.

6. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency identification tag includes an adhesive for adhering to a personal item.

7. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor can be temporarily deactivated to cease monitoring said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

8. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said detection range is approximately 0.5 to 6.0 meters.

9. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor is used to locate said at least one radio frequency identification tag by determining a strength of a returning signal from said radio frequency identification tag.

10. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor includes a menu system for listing said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

11. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitor includes speech recognition capabilities to input the name of a personal item coupled with said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

12. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said alert from said monitor includes a synthesized voice identifying a personal item coupled with said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

13. The personal item monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring system can be temporarily activated or deactivated for said at least one radio frequency identification tag using a clock in said monitor.

14. A personal item monitoring system comprising:

a monitor having a transmitter and a receiver located therein; and

at least one radio frequency identification tag pre-installed into a personal item;

wherein said monitor emits a radio frequency signal received by said radio frequency identification tag, and said radio frequency identification tag emits a responding signal if within a detection range; and

said monitor alerts a user if said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range.

15. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor is a cellular phone.

16. The personal item monitoring system of claim 15, wherein said cellular phone is programmed to dial a pre-selected phone number to alert said user when said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range.

17. The personal item monitoring system of claim 15, wherein said cellular phone is disabled when said at least one radio frequency identification tag leaves said detection range until a password is entered into said cellular phone.

18. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor is a PDA device.

19. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor can be temporarily deactivated to cease monitoring said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

20. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said detection range is approximately 0.5 to 6.0 meters.

21. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor is used to locate said at least one radio frequency identification tag by determining a strength of a returning signal from said radio frequency identification tag.

22. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor includes a menu system for listing said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

23. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitor includes speech recognition capabilities to input the name of a personal item coupled with said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

24. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said alert from said monitor includes a synthesized voice identifying a personal item coupled with said at least one radio frequency identification tag.

25. The personal item monitoring system of claim 14, wherein said monitoring system can be temporarily activated or deactivated for said at least one radio frequency identification tag using a clock in said monitor.