Methods and devices for monitoring the distance between members of a group
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the distance of between members of a group, the method comprising:
- providing each of the members with a monitor, the monitor adapted to transmit at least one signal, to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other monitor, and to determine a characteristic of the at least one received signal representative of the distance of the monitor from the at least one other monitor within the group;
transmitting at least one first signal from a first monitor provided to a first member of the group;
receiving the at least one first signal by a second monitor provided to a second member of the group;
determining the characteristic of the at least one received first signal representative of the distance between the first monitor and the second monitor;
comparing the characteristic of the at least one received first signal to a predetermined characteristic; and
when the determined characteristic deviates from the predetermined characteristic, activating a signal advising at least one member of the deviation.
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Abstract
Emergency workers and other personnel are often endangered by losing contact with other personnel, for example, firefighters working in hostile conditions. Methods and devices for improving the survivability and reducing the potential for injury or death of emergency personnel and others are provided. The methods and devices monitor the distance of members of a group to, among other things, minimize or prevent personnel from being separated from the group. Devices worn by members of a group monitor the distance between members by monitoring the characteristics of wireless communication, for example, signal strength, between members. If the distance between members exceeds or is less than a predetermined distance, an alarm is sounded to alert members to the potential for contact between members or loss of a member of the group. Though aspects of the invention may be used by emergency workers, such as firefighters and policemen, other aspects of the invention may be used to monitor objects or children, among others.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the distance of between members of a group, the method comprising:
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providing each of the members with a monitor, the monitor adapted to transmit at least one signal, to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other monitor, and to determine a characteristic of the at least one received signal representative of the distance of the monitor from the at least one other monitor within the group;
transmitting at least one first signal from a first monitor provided to a first member of the group;
receiving the at least one first signal by a second monitor provided to a second member of the group;
determining the characteristic of the at least one received first signal representative of the distance between the first monitor and the second monitor;
comparing the characteristic of the at least one received first signal to a predetermined characteristic; and
when the determined characteristic deviates from the predetermined characteristic, activating a signal advising at least one member of the deviation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for use in monitoring the distance between members of a group, the device comprising:
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a transmitter adapted to transmit at least one signal;
a receiver adapted to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other device;
means for determining a characteristic of the at least one received signal representative of the distance to the at least one other device;
means for comparing the characteristic of the at least one received signal to a predetermined characteristic; and
means for activating a signal when the characteristic deviates from the predetermined characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 32, 33)
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22. A method for improving the survivability of emergency workers working in a group in proximity to each other, the method comprising:
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providing each emergency worker with a monitor, the monitor adapted to transmit at least one signal, to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other monitor, and to determine a characteristic of the at least one received signal representative of the distance of the monitor from the at least one other monitor within the group;
transmitting at least one first signal from a first monitor provided to a first emergency worker;
receiving the at least one first signal by a second monitor provided to a second emergency worker;
determining the characteristic of the at least one received first signal representative of the distance between the first monitor and the second monitor;
comparing the characteristic of the at least one received first signal to a predetermined characteristic; and
when the characteristic deviates from the predetermined characteristic, activating a signal advising at least one emergency worker in the group of the deviation. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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34. A method for monitoring the distance between members of a group, the method comprising:
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providing each of the members with a monitor, the monitor adapted to determine the position of the monitor, adapted to transmit at least one signal containing information related to the position of the monitor, and adapted to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other monitor;
determining the position of the first monitor;
transmitting at least one first signal from a first monitor provided to a first member of the group, the first signal containing information related to the position of the first monitor;
receiving the at least one first signal containing information related to the position of the first monitor by a second monitor provided to a second member of the group;
determining the position of the second monitor;
comparing the position of the first monitor to the position of the second monitor to determine a distance between the first monitor and the second monitor;
comparing the distance to a predetermined distance; and
when the distance deviates from the predetermined distance, activating a signal advising at least one member of the deviation. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A device for monitoring the distance between members of a group, the device comprising:
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means for determining the position of the device;
a transmitter adapted to transmit at least one signal, the at least one signal containing information related to the position of the device;
a receiver adapted to receive at least one signal transmitted from at least one other device, the received signal containing information related to the position of the other device;
means for comparing the position of the device to the position of the other device to determining a distance between the device and the other device;
means for comparing the distance to a predetermined distance; and
means for activating a signal when the distance deviates from the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for monitoring a distance between members of a group, the method comprising:
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providing each of the members with a monitor, the monitor adapted to determine the relative position of each monitor and the other monitors;
determining the distance between the monitors;
comparing the distance to the distance to the predetermined distance; and
activating a signal when the distance between at least two monitors deviates from the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A device for monitoring the distance between members of a group, the device comprising:
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means for determining the distance from the device to another similar device; and
means for activating a signal when the distance between the devices deviates from a predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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Specification